McRae, son killed in helicopter crash

Former world rally champion Colin McRae was one of four people killed in a helicopter crash in Scotland yesterday, police confirmed…

Former world rally champion Colin McRae was one of four people killed in a helicopter crash in Scotland yesterday, police confirmed today.

A statement issued by Strathclyde police today said a post-mortem was still to be carried out but named 39-year-old McRae and his five-year-old son Johnny as being among the dead.

The other victims were named as  Ben Porcelli (6) , of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan (37), who lived in France.

The helicopter, registered to McRae, came down near McRae's home in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire.

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Colin McRae in his Citroen Xsara WRC before a test session for the Rally Monte Carlo in 2003
Colin McRae in his Citroen Xsara WRC before a test session for the Rally Monte Carlo in 2003

A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are carrying out a full investigation into the cause of the crash.

Police cordoned off the area, including a private road up to the McRae family house which is set in several acres of ground.

McRae, a licensed pilot who owns a helicopter, was married with two children.

The Scot became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995. As well as winning the world championship driving a Subaru in 1995, McRae was runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001.