Wilson privileged to work with McRae.

BP-Ford World Rally Team director Malcolm Wilson has admitted his sadness at the death of former WRC champion Colin McRae over the course of the weekend.

The former Subaru, Ford and Citroen driver was one of four people who died when the Scottish driver's helicopter came down close to his family home in Lanark - with his five year-old son amongst the victims.

Although not involved in the series on a full-time basis for some years, McRae remained one of the biggest names in the WRC and Wilson admitted his death was a huge blow to the British Motorsport scene.

"My heartfelt condolences go to Colin's wife, Alison, his daughter Hollie and the whole McRae family," he said. "I was privileged to have Colin in our team driving for Ford at a time when he was at the peak of his powers.

"He achieved one of his greatest victories with us when he won the legendary Safari Rally in Kenya in 1999 on only our third event with a brand new Focus WRC. It was a victory he went on to repeat in 2002.

"Since retiring as a full-time driver in the WRC, Colin has done much for the sport at grass roots level and his tragic death is a huge loss to British sport in general."