2025 marks the 30-year anniversary of Colin McRae’s first and only World Rally Championship. In honor of the first British WRC titlist, the Goodwood Festival of Speed will organize a “special tribute” to him by having four cars from his career present.

Naturally, his title-winning car is the centerpiece of the group. McRae clinched the 1995 championship in a Subaru Impreza 555 with victories at Rally New Zealand and the RAC Rally (the latter held in the UK); while it was his only driver’s title, the effort kickstarted a three-peat of the manufacturer’s championship for Subaru. Subaru continued to field the Impreza 555 in 1996, where McRae won thrice and finished second in points, before switching to the Subaru Impreza WRC for 1997 under new regulations.

The 1997 Impreza will also be at Goodwood. McRae led all drivers that year in wins with five at the Safari Rally, Tour de Corse, and three consecutive to end the season at Rally Sanremo, Rally Australia, and a dominant RAC Rally. While he lost the championship battle to Tommi Mäkinen again, this time by an even closer margin of just one point, Subaru secured the manufacturers’ title. The Impreza won eight rallies total in 1997, with McRae’s teammates Piero Liatti and Kenneth Eriksson contributing three at the Monte Carlo Rally, Rally Sweden, and Rally New Zealand.

McRae’s 1993 Legacy is the third Subaru taking part. Besides finishing fifth in the ’93 WRC with a win in New Zealand, he claimed the Rally of Malaysia on the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship calendar.

The only non-Subie of the quartet is the 2001 Ford Focus WRC. McRae moved to Ford in 1999, with his best season for the Blue Oval coming two years later. He won three in a row at the Rally Argentina, Cyprus Rally, and Acropolis Rally en route to a runner-up championship placement.

“I am deeply grateful to the McRae family for their support in helping us create a truly special tribute to Colin’s life and career,” said the Duke of Richmond, who owns Goodhouse House and founded the FOS. “Colin was nothing short of a force of nature behind the wheel. His passion, courage, and sheer talent left an unforgettable mark on rallying and all of us who were lucky enough to have seen him in action. It will be wonderful to see the remarkable collection of cars he raced on the Goodwood Hill across the weekend.”

By the end of his WRC career in 2006, McRae had 25 victories and 42 podiums. Even non-rally fans likely know of the late McRae as he was the namesake for the Colin McRae Rally series which later became DiRT.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place on July 10–13.

Featured image credit: Knockhill Racing Circuit