Fan breaks leg in McRae collision

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jul 26, 1998

SCOTLAND'S Subaru driver Colin McRae hit a spectator on his way to finishing third in the opening leg of stage six of the New Zealand Rally.

McRae completed the leg 4.4seconds adrift of overnight leader Didier Auriol.

But a man watching the event at a corner halfway through the 5.5 mile stage in the Maramarua Forest was struck by McRae's vehicle and suffered a broken leg.

He was airlifted by helicopter to hospital.

"We constantly brief spectators on the need to stand well clear of the route - especially on corners - where cars are changing direction at tremendous speed," said clerk of course Morrie Chandler.

"We are distressed at the misfortune of the spectator and stress the need for everyone to stand well clear at all times."

World rally championship leader McRae is 2.2secs behind second- placed Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who is driving a Toyota Corolla.

The Scot held the lead for four of the first eight stages on a course drenched by rain.

"We've been pushing hard but at a good pace," said McRae. "It was maybe a bit of an advantage running first on the road for the opening stage today but other than that it's not made too much difference.

"The conditions haven't been too slippy, more inconsistent, which meant that you got grip on one corner and then lost it on the next.

"There was also a difference when we went over the stages for the second time.

"Initially there was standing water in the ruts in the road, which caused us to aquaplane in places, but then the conditions got better when we re-ran them.

"The times are pretty close and although today's stages have all been short - if you get into a good rhythm from the start it's possible to make up a bit of extra time.

"I'm pleased with our overnight position and I'm looking forward to tomorrow's longer stages."

Britain's Mitsubishi Carisma driver Richard Burns crossed the finish line in fourth, 13secs off the lead with Juha Kankkunen (Ford Escort) next, a further 3.1secs back.

1ST LEG: 1 D Auriol (Fra) Toyota Corolla 27mins 2.7secs, 2 C Sainz (Spa) T Corolla at 2.2, 3 M McRae (GB) Subaru Impreza 4.4, 4 R Burns (GB) Mitsubishi Carisma 13, 5 J Kankkunen (Fin) Ford Escort 16.1, 6 T Makinen (Fin) Mitsubishi Lancer 23.1, 7 M Gronholm (Fin) T Corolla 24.5, 8 T Radstrom (Swe) T Corolla 47.1, 9 P Liatti (Ita) S Impreza 47.7, 10 P Bourne (NZ) S Impreza 56.8.