WHEN TOO MUCH TALENT
WAS SUBARU 'S BIGGEST PROBLEM.
Sometimes, having the perfect team becomes
almost a curse. At least t’s how it must have felt for
Prodrive’s manager David Richards in 1994 and 1995.
On the last round of the 1994 season, the British RAC,
the spirits rose, as Sainz was on the cusp of clenching
the driver’s title in a close fight with Auriol at Toyota.
He expected Prodrive would hold McRae and stop
him from fighting for the lead, making
team orders official.
almost a curse. At least t’s how it must have felt for
Prodrive’s manager David Richards in 1994 and 1995.
On the last round of the 1994 season, the British RAC,
the spirits rose, as Sainz was on the cusp of clenching
the driver’s title in a close fight with Auriol at Toyota.
He expected Prodrive would hold McRae and stop
him from fighting for the lead, making
team orders official.
It wasn’t the case and with Auriol in 6th,
Sainz had to win the rally, yet his teammate
was flying the Scooby in the lead, with British
fans absolutely thrilled. Assuming that no team orders
would ever be given, Carlos pushed as much as he
could and ended up crashing and losing the title,
while Colin won his home rally with what was,
for all intents and purposes, a British team.
Sainz had to win the rally, yet his teammate
was flying the Scooby in the lead, with British
fans absolutely thrilled. Assuming that no team orders
would ever be given, Carlos pushed as much as he
could and ended up crashing and losing the title,
while Colin won his home rally with what was,
for all intents and purposes, a British team.
Auriol became world champion.
Fast forward to Catalunya 1995,
the penultimate round of the 1995 season,
and things were looking good for Subaru, after
Toyota Team Europe was caught bending the rules
the penultimate round of the 1995 season,
and things were looking good for Subaru, after
Toyota Team Europe was caught bending the rules
and got excluded. In the wake of this decision,
Prodrive was leading the constructors table,
with Mitsubishi Ralliart as a close runner-up.
Prodrive was leading the constructors table,
with Mitsubishi Ralliart as a close runner-up.
In the drivers’ championship, Subaru boys
were way ahead of everyone, yet close to each
other, so the priority was to ensure none of them
made anything silly. If they managed to finish
first and second, the constructors title
would be decided there and then.
were way ahead of everyone, yet close to each
other, so the priority was to ensure none of them
made anything silly. If they managed to finish
first and second, the constructors title
would be decided there and then.
At the end of the second day, Sainz was
leading with McRae in second, separated by three
seconds. David Richards then ordered them to keep
things as they were the following day. Allegedly, McRae
didn’t express his discontent, except to
Derek Ringer who told him to
leading with McRae in second, separated by three
seconds. David Richards then ordered them to keep
things as they were the following day. Allegedly, McRae
didn’t express his discontent, except to
Derek Ringer who told him to
“push on, make no mistakes,
and then we’ll see what happens”.
and then we’ll see what happens”.
Dazed with the evidence that McRae
wasn’t holding back, Richards had members of
wasn’t holding back, Richards had members of
the team on stag, in front of the car, trying to make
Colin stop and loose time, but he wasn’t deterred and
went on to beat Sainz, only to get a penalty
on purpose at the last service, so that
he could be relegated to second.
Sainz and Richards were furious, but the goal
was met, and Subaru got the manufacturer’s title.
Colin stop and loose time, but he wasn’t deterred and
went on to beat Sainz, only to get a penalty
on purpose at the last service, so that
he could be relegated to second.
Sainz and Richards were furious, but the goal
was met, and Subaru got the manufacturer’s title.
On the last round, once again the RAC,
whether fuelled by rage or simply inspired,
Colin put up a tremendous pace, one that Carlos
admitted he just couldn’t keep. In the end, McRae
was world champion, the youngest ever. Afterwards,
the two rivals would be teammates for another five
seasons, first at Ford and then Citroën. To get
a sense of how they got along, Sainz
puts it clear and simple:
“He was my best friend ever in rallying. We’d even
spend summer together with our families."
whether fuelled by rage or simply inspired,
Colin put up a tremendous pace, one that Carlos
admitted he just couldn’t keep. In the end, McRae
was world champion, the youngest ever. Afterwards,
the two rivals would be teammates for another five
seasons, first at Ford and then Citroën. To get
a sense of how they got along, Sainz
puts it clear and simple:
“He was my best friend ever in rallying. We’d even
spend summer together with our families."
A beautiful and surprising footnote,
for a story of respectful rivalry.
So, while you may not be able to
get your hands on some of McRae and Sainz
socks (yet), you may still get your feet into
some of our best-sellers within
our Dirt Collection.
for a story of respectful rivalry.
So, while you may not be able to
get your hands on some of McRae and Sainz
socks (yet), you may still get your feet into
some of our best-sellers within
our Dirt Collection.
