Former WR Champion Colin McRae dies in copter accident
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070915/ ... f96_5.htmlLONDON (Reuters) - A small helicopter crashed, killing those on board, on Saturday near the home of former world rally champion Colin McRae, a helicopter pilot and enthusiast, police said.
They added in a statement that four people were on board the helicopter owned by McRae, which came down in a wooded area in Lanarkshire, Scotland at about 4:10 p.m.
"It's believed he (McRae) was on board the helicopter, however until formal identification has taken place we will not be able to confirm the identities of those on board."
Police, who were at the scene conducting a thorough search of the area, said further details about the victims would be released on Sunday.
Air Accident Investigators will carry out a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
McRrae, 39, the son of five-times rally champion Jimmy, wrote his name in the record books in 1995 when he became the first Briton to win the world rally championship.
LOCAL CIRCUIT
He began his career in 1986 on the local Scottish rally circuit where he learnt the skills that took him to the top of the sport and 25 victories in the World Rally Championship.
McRae made his debut in the World Rally Championship in 1987 at the Swedish rally.
It was when he joined the Subaru team in 1991 that his career began to blossom. He was British champion in 1991 and 1992 and made his breakthrough on the world stage in 1993 when he won the New Zealand Rally.
In 1995 he wrapped up the world title on home soil in the last event of the season, edging out Subaru team mate Carlos Sainz. McRae, who finished runner-up in 1996 and 1997, joined Ford in 1999 and was runner-up again in 2001.
He moved to the Citroen team in 2003 but struggled to a disappointing seventh in the championship.
McRae, married with two children, launched a popular brand of computer games based on the World Rally championship.
He also competed in other forms of motor sport, driving a truck in the Paris-Dakar rally and taking part in the Le Mans 24-hour race.
He made a brief return to the WRC in October last year, replacing defending champion Sebastian Loeb in the Citroen team for the Rally of Turkey, the 146th of his career, after the Frenchman broke his arm in a bicycle accident.
