COLIN McRae's death in a helicopter crash has robbed Scotland not only of one of its few sporting world champions, but also of a man whose adventurous spirit was an inspiration well beyond the traditional boundaries of motorsport.

Far more interested in ploughing on to the next challenge rather than dwelling on what he had already done, McRae did not court publicity, and the World Rally Championship (WRC), which he won in 1995, receives little media attention in Britain compared to Formula 1. For both those reasons, the magnitude of his achievement was, if anything, underestimated in his own country, only being fully appreciated elsewhere.

The elder son of the five-time British Rally Championship winner Jimmy McRae, Colin learned from his father's experiences. Married to his own innate ability, this body of knowledge helped him reach new heights in his chosen profession.