Jimmy McRae

Five-time British champion, a Rothmans Opel stalwart and the father of a world champion. Jimmy McRae was one of the pillars of British rallying during the Group B era.

5
British titles (record)
1
WRC podium
7
starts 1982–86
15th
1983 championship
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British rallying and the Group B era.

Jimmy McRae.
Jimmy McRae.Photo: sandyseek via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0

Opel’s man in Britain

Born on 28 October 1943 and based in Lanark, McRae won the British Rally Championship five times (1981, 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1988), a record. In the Group B years he drove the Opel Ascona 400 and then the Manta 400 for the Rothmans-backed Opel team, with Ian Grindrod as his long-time co-driver. He was also runner-up in the European championship in 1982.

World championship highlights

  • 1983 RAC Rally – third in a Manta 400, his only world championship podium; he ended 1983 15th in the standings.
  • 1985 RAC Rally – sixth in the Manta.
  • 1986 RAC Rally – eighth in an MG Metro 6R4.

Five British titles, an RAC podium and the founder of a rallying dynasty.

Family

His sons Colin and Alister both became works rally drivers; Colin won the 1995 world championship. Jimmy’s British title tally remains a record.

European and national championships

With Ian Grindrod, McRae won the 1982 British title in an Opel Ascona 400 and was runner-up in the European championship, winning the Galway, Circuit of Ireland, Halkidiki and Manx rallies. In 1984, now with Mike Nicholson in a Manta 400, he won only the final British round, the Manx, but four podiums gave him the title over Hannu Mikkola by 57 points to 45. He won the Circuit of Ireland again in 1985 and drove a Rothmans MG Metro 6R4 in 1986. See the British championship and Irish Tarmac championship pages.

Career in the Group B years

World Rally Championship podiums of the driver, year by year (1982–1986). win 2nd 3rd

1982
0wins
0 podiums
1983
0wins
1 podium
1984
0wins
0 podiums
1985
0wins
0 podiums
1986
0wins
0 podiums

0 WRC wins · 1 podium finishes, 1982–1986

In pictures 1 photos

An Opel Manta 400 in 'Andrews' colours, as driven by Russell Brookes in the British championship.
An Opel Manta 400 in 'Andrews' colours, as driven by Russell Brookes in the British championship.Photo: Lukeno94 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Sources

  1. Wikipedia (EN), Jimmy McRae — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_McRae
  2. Wikipedia (EN), British Rally Championship — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rally_Championship
  3. Jonkka's World Rally Archive (juwra.com), results and entry lists 1982–1986 — https://www.juwra.com/

All text is original writing for Grouve Sports Management Group, based on the sources above. Facts checked on 21 October 2026.

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Thumbnail photos on this page: Carlo Marzetti (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0); Morio (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); 5225C (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Calreyn88 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0); Carlomarzetti (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0); Rutger van der Maar (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0).