Police have confirmed that former world rally champion Colin McRae was one of four people killed in a helicopter crash.
Statement confirms former champion was one of four killed
Police have confirmed that former world rally champion Colin McRae was one of four people killed in a helicopter crash.
The 39-year-old Scot and his five-year-old son Johnny were both on board the aircraft when it came down at Jerviswood near Lanark.
The other victims have been named as six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France.
McRae - a licensed pilot who often flew in the area - was in control of the Twin Squirrel helicopter when it encountered problems and crashed at about 4.10pm on Saturday afternoon.
"We believe that the group were just returning from a visit to the nearby village of Quarter around 4.05pm yesterday, when it appears that the helicopter got into difficulty and crashed within the grounds of Mr McRae's family home," Chief Superintendent Tim Love, divisional commander of Strathclyde Police's South Lanarkshire Division, said.
"Our officers are working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Team who are presently at the scene.
"Family liaison officers have been appointed and are with the families to help them through this distressing and difficult time."
First British champ
McRae became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship drivers' title with Subaru back in 1995.
He also finished runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001, with his last full season coming in 2003 as team-mate to Sebastien Loeb at Citroen.
McRae also replaced Loeb after the injured Frenchman was unable to contest last year's Rally of Turkey.
Known for his flamboyant style behind the wheel, McRae was never afraid to tackle other areas of motor sport.
He competed in the Paris-Dakar rally, the Le Mans 24-Hour race and also took on the likes of F1 world champion Michael Schumacher in the Race of Champions - winning the latter in 1998.
He is part of a successful motor racing family. His dad, Jimmy, was a five-time British rally champion, a title Colin's brother, Alister, also went on to win.
