McRae to race in Porsche Carrera Cup at Knockhill

Colin McRae will race in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Knockhill over the weekend of 2/3 September. The former World Rally Champion will drive the car entered by Porsche Cars GB in association with Vertu, the world’s first and only manufacturer of luxury handcrafted mobile phones, at his home track during the British Touring Car Championship meeting.

McRae has already raced a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car this season, having contested the Nürburgring and Monaco rounds of the international Porsche Michelin Supercup, and will now race in the Carrera Cup GB during the biggest weekend of the Scottish motor racing season.

"Racing in the Supercup races was a great experience and it will be good to capitalise on that in a round of the Carrera Cup," says McRae. "I know the Knockhill circuit well, which gives you a bit of extra confidence."

McRae is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the World Rally Championship, having won the title in 1995 and finished in the top six in another nine seasons. He has won more than 25 World Championship rallies to date in a rallying career spanning nearly 20 years. He remains one of Scotland's best-known sportsmen.

"I really enjoyed the Supercup races, but it does take time to learn a whole new discipline," says McRae, who has raced occasionally throughout his career whenever his rallying commitments have allowed. "Richard Westbrook helped me a lot in the Supercup races. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is a unique car but, apart from the brakes, it is the same car in Carrera Cup."

McRae, who is based in Lanark, will be a very popular draw for Scottish fans at the BTCC meeting. "I'm sure there will be plenty of local support! I've driven lots of stuff at Knockhill, including motorbikes. It's a fairly tricky place and you need to qualify well, so qualifying will be very important."

He is keen to run well, but knows that the standard is high. "The Carrera Cup attracts a lot of good quality and experienced drivers, and there is certainly a high standard. It's not going to be easy!"