20,000 mourn McRae

More than 20,000 fans of Colin McRae flooded the streets of Lanark on September 30 to pay their respects at his memorial service. Some 750 family members and friends filled St. Nicholas’ Church, including his former co-drivers Derek Ringer and Nicky Grist, and many other admirers from the motor sport world such as Damon Hill, Dario Franchitti, Alan McNish and Marcus Grönholm.

Large TV screens were erected in the town centre so that the public could view the service, which included tributes from friends and family, music, poetry and a special film with highlights of his career. The crowd sang along to a favourite song of Johnny, Colin’s son, also killed in the helicopter crash. David Richards paid his respects and confirmed why Colin was so popular by saying, “Colin once said to me ‘The cosmetics of the car don’t matter to me. As long as its wheels are still facing the right direction we have to keep trying’.”