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Alister Mcrae
Hey, since Jani Paasonen has made an appearance, I thought I'd bring up Alister Mcrae - one of my very favourite drivers who I've always been very interested in. What happened to him? Was he very good?
I remember about 10 years ago he was VERY highly rated, and he seemed destined for great success. When he got the call to replace Makinen at Mitsubishi, it looked like he'd got his big break. But it was a disaster. He didn't seem to beat Delecour even. He even missed the end of the season after badly damaging his liver, and then just faded away after that.
He finished 6th on a one off event at New Zealand 2003 in the Lancer, then a few months later he was quietly dropped. He then turned up in the highly competitive 2004 PWRC. I was still quite new to the sport then, not having so much understanding of it, so I thought he would be overqualified having done WRC, and blow everyone away. He was good but not as good as I thought he would be. He didn't win any rallies, but was very unlucky to lose the title in Australia with 4 stages to go.
When new rules for 2004 initally commanded teams to only have a 3rd driver who hadn't scored a podium in the last 3 years, I couldn't understand why there wasn't a rush to sign him!!! Instead, Citroen for example plumped for Simon Jean-Joseph. (the rule was scrapped anyway).
Does anyone think he was good?
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I think Alister's problem was that he was Colin's brother for all the baggage that being in that position brings. Obviously this wasn't something of his own making but can't have been easy.
Otherwise I've always thought he was a fine driver, maybe not a numero uno perhaps but a good no 2 and massive experience. I guess he's like Mark Higgins, respected just never got that break that lasted or worked out, Hyundai for example. Which makes me think, is history repeating itself in 2010?
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he was a very mediocre driver....
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He was ok, but never as talented as his brother.
A breakthrough at Mitsubishi was almost impossible with a car like the Lancer step 2, but his fifth place at Sweden was quite special. Why he was dropped at Mitsubishi in favour of likes as Sohlberg and Sola (remember him) in 2004 is beyond me.
Btw, he's driving a Proton in IRC and APRC events these days.
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Yeah, a bit harsh he was dropped.
But I understood why Mitsubishi did. I was a big fan of Kristian Sohlberg and thought he was the best thing since sliced bread at the time (based on his New Zealand 2003 performance and being 2nd in 2002 PWRC). I also rated Dani Sola for winning JWRC 2002 and his PWRC performances. I could start a whole new thread about these drivers!
I was SO disappointed with 2005 for both. I thought Sola would do great things in a Ford Focus, challenging for podiums! In 2006, Sohlberg was beaten by Valimaki in Greece (or Sardinia). Huge letdowns!!!
Strangely enough, being busy raving over Sohlberg and Sola I didn't expect much from Mitsusbihi's other driver - Gianluigi Galli. And look how he turned out. That's more like it!
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If you think back to 1997 or 1997, he really had the pace in when he joined Colin in Subaru for rally GB. I am sure he was second for much of the event. Sad things never turned out for him.
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He's not that unhappy.. He drove in times when contracts was with six zeros.. :D
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I competed against Alister a couple of times, him at the sharp end and us at the back. I remember one event the poor guy never got his drink in prize giving, his pint was poured and just as he was about to pick it up a fan came to ask for his autograph so the pint was ignored and the poster signed. He goes to pick up his drink and another fan arrived so the pint was put back. That went on all evening and the guy never stopped smiling for the fans. Barreis might be right about the money but I'm pretty sure that Alister has a bit more depth to him too.
I also remember after one off I had to stay with the car while my driver went back to be pampered and I stood and watched Colin and Alister and they hit the anchors at the same spot (we stuck a twig in the ground to mark Colins point), it was like watching robots. Colin got on the gas a bit quicker and carried that speed down the straight but there wasn't much in it. Of course, those "not much in it" on each corner added up to a championship for Colin.
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People on here may say he was only an average driver but I remember back when he did rally GB with Subaru, I think he contested the Bulldog or some national rally in Great Britain beforehand and I think he beat the second place car by some crazy amount, maybe a few minutes, I am not sure of the exact rally name but it was only a test for the the rally GB outing and his win there for me was very impressive. Some person on the forum from uk will know better than me.
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I remember that RAC when he and Colin was first and second in works subaru's at some point.. And also one hairpin when Alister took it too wide.. That was great days of this sport..