McRae to LeMan's this year?
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McRae to LeMans this year?
I guess I can post this here, maybe in the road racing forum too, but I dunno... I'm not in the mood to crosspost. 
Quote from Autosport's website http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=25624&s=13
Quote from Autosport's website http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=25624&s=13
This could be Colin McRae's mount come June
Former World Rally champion Colin McRae is in the frame for two drives at the wheel of Ferrari GT cars for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, according to a story in this week's AUTOSPORT Magazine.
McRae has made no secret of his desire to race at Le Mans, and has now revealed that he is in talks with two separate Ferrari runners about fulfilling that ambition in 2004.
The 35-year-old is in advanced negations with Care Racing , which funds and manages the Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello project. A drive with the team at the 24 Hours and in the Le Mans Endurance Series seems McRae's most likely option.
Care Racing's Dominic Falque said: “We have had several meetings with Colin and his manager and we are making progress.”
Former World Rally champion Colin McRae is in the frame for two drives at the wheel of Ferrari GT cars for this year's Le Mans 24 Hours, according to a story in this week's AUTOSPORT Magazine.
McRae has made no secret of his desire to race at Le Mans, and has now revealed that he is in talks with two separate Ferrari runners about fulfilling that ambition in 2004.
The 35-year-old is in advanced negations with Care Racing , which funds and manages the Prodrive Ferrari 550 Maranello project. A drive with the team at the 24 Hours and in the Le Mans Endurance Series seems McRae's most likely option.
Care Racing's Dominic Falque said: “We have had several meetings with Colin and his manager and we are making progress.”
Last edited by Nick Koan; Mar 25, 2004 at 09:37 AM.
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damn, that would be something to watch! i wonder who McRae would be teamed with for the 24 hour race? it seems to me that his rally experience i.e. running at night, in all conditions, all day long etc. would make him an ideal candidate for an endurance race -- despite his tendency to wad up cars pushing too hard.
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UPDATE:
Oh man, I really hope he gets this drive.
From
http://www.wrc.com/en_GB/News/2004/0...ilemanscar.htm
Colin McRae looks set to race in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours after testing a Ferrari 550 Maranello for the first time earlier this week.
The 1995 World Champion – who is on the sidelines from the World Rally Championship this year after being dropped by Citroen – competed in the Dakar Rally in January, and is keen to expand his experience of circuit racing by competing in the classic endurance race on June 12-13. He has previously raced in the British Touring Car Championship in 1992 and, more recently, the ASCAR oval stock car series.
The Scot had a try-out in the GTS-class car at a soaking-wet Snetterton on Monday. The car was tended by Prodrive – the same organisation which runs the Subaru World Rally team – for the test. Although McRae was only able to complete 14 laps in the car, he described the experience as positive.
“Le Mans is an event in which everyone is interested – a bit like the Dakar Rally,” he said in this week’s Autosport magazine. “My situation means I’m in a position to do these events. The conditions made it a baptism of fire. I was thrown in at the deep end and couldn’t even begin to explore the limit, but at least I got some laps in. It would have been nice to have had dry running, but, at least when that happens, my confidence should build quite quickly.”
McRae is now in talks with teams about racing a similar car at Le Mans, and an announcement about his participation could be imminent. He also admitted that he is in no particular rush to return to the WRC. “I’m certainly not saying that I’ll never be back,” he admitted, however. “It’s early yet. Ask me for my thoughts again in August.”
Oh man, I really hope he gets this drive.
From
http://www.wrc.com/en_GB/News/2004/0...ilemanscar.htm
Colin McRae looks set to race in this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours after testing a Ferrari 550 Maranello for the first time earlier this week.
The 1995 World Champion – who is on the sidelines from the World Rally Championship this year after being dropped by Citroen – competed in the Dakar Rally in January, and is keen to expand his experience of circuit racing by competing in the classic endurance race on June 12-13. He has previously raced in the British Touring Car Championship in 1992 and, more recently, the ASCAR oval stock car series.
The Scot had a try-out in the GTS-class car at a soaking-wet Snetterton on Monday. The car was tended by Prodrive – the same organisation which runs the Subaru World Rally team – for the test. Although McRae was only able to complete 14 laps in the car, he described the experience as positive.
“Le Mans is an event in which everyone is interested – a bit like the Dakar Rally,” he said in this week’s Autosport magazine. “My situation means I’m in a position to do these events. The conditions made it a baptism of fire. I was thrown in at the deep end and couldn’t even begin to explore the limit, but at least I got some laps in. It would have been nice to have had dry running, but, at least when that happens, my confidence should build quite quickly.”
McRae is now in talks with teams about racing a similar car at Le Mans, and an announcement about his participation could be imminent. He also admitted that he is in no particular rush to return to the WRC. “I’m certainly not saying that I’ll never be back,” he admitted, however. “It’s early yet. Ask me for my thoughts again in August.”
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UPDATE:
He's got it for sure. No more question marks
http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=26568&s=15
He's got it for sure. No more question marks
http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=26568&s=15
Former World Rally Champion Colin McRae has sealed a deal to compete at this year's Le Mans 24 Hours in a Prodrive-prepared Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS.
The Scot tested the car at Snetterton in Norfolk last week and will drive for the Care Racing Developments team, which won the GTS class at last year's Le Mans 24 Hours with a similar car.
McRae will team up with European Touring Car Championship driver Rickard Rydell and McLaren Formula 1 tester Darren Turner in one of the 550s. A second car will be driven by ex-Formula 3000 champion Tomas Enge, Peter Kox and ex-BTCC champion Alain Menu.
Prodrive has designed, built and developed nine Ferrari 550 Maranellos over the last three years and was one of two teams that regularly raced cars on behalf of Care during 2003. Its class victory in last year's 24 Hours guaranteed entry to the '04 event.
We know the challenge will be much harder this year
George Howard-Chappell
Prodrive technical director George Howard-Chappell said: "We know the challenge will be much harder this year, from a competition point of view as well as the technical challenge of building and supporting so many cars within the programme. But we are fully confident that our ultra-professional team of people will handle it extremely well."
The Scot tested the car at Snetterton in Norfolk last week and will drive for the Care Racing Developments team, which won the GTS class at last year's Le Mans 24 Hours with a similar car.
McRae will team up with European Touring Car Championship driver Rickard Rydell and McLaren Formula 1 tester Darren Turner in one of the 550s. A second car will be driven by ex-Formula 3000 champion Tomas Enge, Peter Kox and ex-BTCC champion Alain Menu.
Prodrive has designed, built and developed nine Ferrari 550 Maranellos over the last three years and was one of two teams that regularly raced cars on behalf of Care during 2003. Its class victory in last year's 24 Hours guaranteed entry to the '04 event.
We know the challenge will be much harder this year
George Howard-Chappell
Prodrive technical director George Howard-Chappell said: "We know the challenge will be much harder this year, from a competition point of view as well as the technical challenge of building and supporting so many cars within the programme. But we are fully confident that our ultra-professional team of people will handle it extremely well."
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