Colin McRae's 2001 Ford Focus WRC heads to auction

One of the World Rally Championship's most iconic cars has come up for sale, with genuine pedigree from one of the sport's favourite drivers.

Built in 2001 by the Malcolm Wilson-led Ford World Rally team, this Ford Focus was designed to take 1995 WRC champion Colin McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist to the title.

A two-time rally winner in 2001, this chassis won both the gruelling Argentina and Acropolis events, which allowed McRae to take the title fight to fellow Briton Richard Burns, culminating in a two-way shootout at the season finale on home soil.

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Despite leading on the final day of competition and in position to win the title, McRae hit a rock in the inside of a fast right-hander, launching the Focus into the air and ending his championship aspirations, allowing Burns to claim his only world title.

Rebuilt for the 2002 campaign, McRae and Grist couldn't replicate their success from the year prior in the car bearing registration 'Y4 FMC', with the it being moved on to a British owner, competing in national-level competition.

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Returned to its former glory in the iconic white, red and blue Martini colours, the car has been meticulously restored by a rally specialist, with all original M-Sport created parts fitted, as well as logbook documentation.

As Lot 319 in Silverstone Auctions' season opener for 2022, its guide price is estimated around £300,000-350,000 (AU$565,000-660,000), although who knows how much it more it could have been worth had McRae been able to seal the championship.