2003 Ford Focus RS Mk1 - Award-Winning Tribute Car

The legendary Colin McRae came from a family dedicated to rallying and who collectively have achieved many outright rally wins and rally championship wins at all levels. Son of five-time British rally champion, Jimmy, and brother to rally driver, Alistair, Colin went on to win the British Rally Championship in 1991 and 1992 before being signed by Prodrive to spearhead their challenge in the World Rally Championship from 1993. He was amazingly successful at this senior level, going on to win the World Rally Championship outright in 1995 for Subaru and Prodrive.

Always known for his fully committed approach, he was a risk taker and a superb driver to watch. No less so than in 2001, when driving the famous Focus RS, Y4 FMC, for the official Ford World Rally team, he won the Argentina, Cyprus and the Greek Acropolis rallies with Nicky Grist co-driving. By the end of that season, following a strong second place in New Zealand, they were both poised to win the World Championship again. It was a real head to head with his arch rival, Richard Burns, driving for Subaru and Colin in the Focus representing Ford in the 2001 British round of the WRC, the 'Network Q' Rally of Great Britain.

Never one to consider championship caution, Colin drove Y4 FMC flat out and heading Richard and leading the rally outright as they went into SS4 (Rhonda 1). Unfortunately, such was his pace that he was launched in to a spectacular series of barrel roles (sufficiently impressive to make the nine o’clock news that night!) and handed both the rally and overall championship win to his arch rival, Richard Burns (Colin was pipped for the championship by just two points by Richard).

The Focus, with its Martini livery, became a legend. So much so, that this multiple award-winning car was cosmetically modified in 2008 in tribute. Registered on 1st September 2003, the car underwent exhaustive concours-level works that finished with a documented respray in Diamond White on 7th July 2008. With the interior kept largely standard, the car’s condition earned it multiple awards, as displayed, and these awards are included in the sale. Presented to auction with an advisory-free MOT Certificate from July this year at 79,027 miles, the detailed history file includes reams of receipts, awards and both keys.