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SMOKE FREE RALLY
NEW ZEALAND
1995
“I was doing the Gravel Notes for Colin on this rally and can remember being at the service point at the end of the Motu stage. Colin was having a big battle for the lead with Didier Auriol. I can remember the boss of the Toyota team saying “if Colin comes out of the Motu stage without a problem, we are beaten.”
Jimmy McRae, Colin’s father
25° Rally New Zealand Auckland, 27-30 July 1995
| Pilots | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
1. McRae Colin - Ringer Derek |
Subaru Impreza 555 |
5.33:06 |
|
2. Auriol Didier - Giraudet Denis |
Toyota Celica GT-Four |
5.33:50 |
|
3. Kankkunen Juha - Grist Nicky |
Toyota Celica GT-Four |
5.34:15 |
Overall Classification
| Pilots | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|
|
4. Schwarz Armin - Wicha Klaus |
Toyota Celica GT-Four |
5.34:51 |
|
5. Eriksson Kenneth - Parmander Staffan |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III |
5.35:38 |
|
6. Delecour François - François Catherine |
Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
5.37:30 |
|
7. Bourne Peter “Possum” - Sircombe Tony |
Subaru Impreza 555 |
5.42:01 |
|
8. Allport Neil - Vincent Craig |
Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
5.54:47 |
|
9. Recalde Jorge - Christie Martin |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II |
5.57:45 |
|
10. Madeira Rui - Rodrigues da Silva Nuno |
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo II |
5.58:16 |
The hero of Motu
On the other side of the world, Colin McRae manages to enter a different dimension. In 1995, he obtained his third consecutive victory in the New Zealand Rally, his second at the wheel of the Subaru Impreza 555. The Scot, alongside Derek Ringer, finds himself dominating the gravel roads of Oceania. The unique combination of McRae and Impreza puts opponents in crisis, who have to call on all of their strength to try and stay ahead of the Japanese all-wheel drive.
The Subaru Impreza group A seems to dance on the dirty roads and Colin doesn't have the slightest uncertainty, especially at Motu. A really short name for the special stage measuring 44,800 kilometers, the longest of the whole World Championship. A narrow strip of land that winds through the mountains, used during the rest of the year only by those who work in the woods that abound in that corner of New Zealand. "In that special stage I drive like I’m on tarmac, I brake early and use the accelerator gently. Be precise and don't let the car go sideways. I would have been surprised if someone had beaten me but I never expected to take 35 seconds from all the others in a single stage...». In the end, it would be a 46“ advantage held by the Scotsman and his Subaru - a success that came after letting his opponents vent in the initial stages. McRae took the lead on special stage 10 and held it right until the end.
