DVD Available here: http://bit.ly/TNWtjD Download also available: http://bit.ly/XMs62j 'An honourable tribute' Octane magazine During 2007, a Duke production team was tasked with producing the definitive documentary about Colin McRae. With full access to all the WRC recordings of Colin's championship years, plus other rally and family archive, director Mark Cross was able to compile the most comprehensive career record yet of this remarkable sportsman. Working closely with McRae Motorsport Ltd, we also had rare and exclusive access to Colin during a hectic year in which he was about to launch his first production rally car, the amazing R4, was contracted to the X-raid BMW team for Dakar 2008, was involved in the launch of the latest version of his hugely successful computer game 'Colin Mcrae-Dirt' and was seriously considering a return to the WRC. The crew also joined Colin driving the R4 in public for the first time at Goodwood and thrilling the crowds in his unique Ford Escort Mk 2 at the Manx National Rally. Finally, in late August, only afew weeks before the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Colin, his son Johnny and two family friends, we were especially privileged to spend two days in Lanark with Colin and his family. Here Colin talked candidly about every aspect of his career and life, his favourite and not-so-favourite, drives, events, teams and his plans for the future. he result is the critically-acclaimed Colin McRae - Rally Legend. This is his story - the story of a true rally legend. "Don't think this is a hastily-prepared tribute rushed out in time for Christmas - nothing could be further from the truth. Duke Video had been commissioned to make an authorised biography of McRae at the start of 2007, and was given unparalleled access to the private life of one of rallying's true greats. "It followed Colin's activities through the first half of 2007, including his R4 production car project (which he can be seen demonstrating at Goodwood) and the launch of the Colin McRae: Dirt computer game. "The 90-minute film is interspersed with some full and frank interviews with the Scot. Some of the most poignant moments were filmed just a few weeks before the helicopter accident which claimed his life. "Anyone who truly appreciated Colin's bravery and skill behind the wheel really should have this DVD in their collection." Motorsport News, December 5, 2007. "Hastily created tribute films are all too common in this commercially driven age, but this incredible production is the antithesis of such a thing. "With the full cooperation of Colin, this film was well underway before the horrors of September 15. Narrated by McRae's friend and biographer Derick Allsop, every facet of the Scot's life is coverered - from early scrapes in rallying, through the WRC glory days with Subaru, right up to the one-off return with Citroen, the Dakar Rally exploits and the first public appearance of the potent McRae R4. "Additional material, which makes this film so watchable, includes Colin's infamous BTCC debut at Knockhill in '92, his balls-out charge last summer in the Manx National Rally on the Isle of Man aboard ONM 804V, his incredibly lairy Mk2 Escort and first-hand accounts of the Colin McRae Rally video game phenomenon. "It's full-fat, high-octane, undiluted turbo Mcfever from start to finish and Colin and little Johnny would have loved it." Autosport, January 10, 2008 'With almost unbearable poignancy, the in-depth interview with McRae that forms the backbone to this gripping documentary was filmed the month before his death in a helicopter crash in September 2007. That actually makes it quite hard to watch, but the consolation is that the film-makers have done a good job, splicing McRae's reminiscences with loads of rally archive footage. Early film of him competing in his first rally car, a Talbot Sunbeam bought for £850, makes a fascinating contrast with the later Subaru days, and there are contributions from Prodrive boss Dave Richards and more. An honourable tribute' Octane

• published: 16 Nov 2012
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