12 Mar 2017

Jimmy McRae on 1985 RAC Rally

Video of the 1985 RAC Rally, with Tuthill Porsche driver, Jimmy McRae chasing four-wheel drive Audis and Peugeots in a two-wheel drive Opel Manta 400. Skill!

Scanning Youtube the other night, I found some video of the 1985 RAC Rally.

First through the wonderful footage shot on the Dovey stage is Hannu Mikkola, in the S1 Quattro. Per Eklund is next, in another Audi. Third through the stage is Michael Sundstrom in a UK-entered Peugeot 205 T16 and fourth is a two wheel drive car: the Manta 400 driven by Tuthill favourite, Jimmy McRae.

The McRae name is synonymous with passionate rallying and a never-say-never spirit. It’s great to see footage of Jimmy charging hard as the underdog all those years ago, and to know that nothing has changed: Jimmy is as canny and as quick as he ever was. When he remembers his glasses!

Enjoy the video. Memories of fast Audis, good friends and top times. The last part, where the cars are doing 132 mph through the woods is a reality check. I was doing 132 on a runway the other day, wondering if I was going too fast.

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