The Real McRae

By Colin McRae and Derick Allsop

ISBN 009188396-2

Published by Ebury Press, £6.99

Considering that the publishers went to all the trouble of updating the final chapter of this book for its release in paperback, it seems odd that it wasn’t delayed until Colin had finished the season, so as to neatly cover the end of his Ford career. In fact, it doesn’t even mention his deal with Citroën.

If The Real McRae was merely out of date, that could be forgiven, but the script’s tone is as dour as the man’s own public persona. Maybe that justifies the title, and as a record of what McRae has achieved, it is fine. But it does justice to neither a thrilling sport nor its most extravagantly talented exponent of the last 10 years.

You might do better to wait for an unauthorised biography – preferably after the great man has retired. DM