Rally: McRaes mark 25 years at Kames

Jun 19 2009 by Mike Wilson

A MASSIVE day of action is set to mark the 25th anniversary of Kames Motorsport Complex.

On Sunday June 28, the Scottish Old Skool Escort Club will be joined at Kames by father and son team Jimmy and Alister McRae.

Jimmy, father of late world rally champion Colin McRae and five times British rally champion himself, will be taking to the track in Colin's Mk2 Escort rally car. Possibly the fastest and most famous Mk2 in the world, this will be the car's first outing since Colin died in 2007.

Alister, also a British rally champion and former WRC driver, will drive a Group 4 spec' MK2 Escort last piloted by world champion Ari Vatanen on 2008's McRae Stages Rally. Both drivers will be auctioning off limited numbers of passenger runs on the day in aid of the McRae Vision charity, founded in memory of Colin.

Those not lucky enough to win a run with either of the McRaes will be able to buy a run in one of the other cars taking part. All money raised will go to the Colin McRae Vision charity.

Kames has played host to the McRae family many times. The Kames trophy Rally was the first competitive event that both Colin and Alister took part in. Sadly, it was also the last place Colin ever drove, testing the 350bhp R4 rally car he'd developed, two days before the fatal crash.

Jimmy officially reopened the resurfaced and rejuvenated circuit in the summer of 200X with many other visits taking place over the years.

Alongside the on track action, Kames will see the largest gathering of rear wheel drive Escorts in Scotland as well displays of many other classic Fords and the show and shine competition. Also on display will a collection of rally cars including not only Escorts, but the McRae R4 car itself.

Kames is a unique facility in British motorsport having been created, owned and operated wholly by volunteers of East Ayrshire Car Club.

Over the past 25 years, the track has grown both in size and stature, playing host not only to the McRae's but current WRC championship contender Miko Hirvonen, while in August the British Sprint Championship will visit Kames for the first time.

The day will start off at 10am with entry costing £5 for adults while children are free.