Top five rally racers

29th September 2011

By Anthony Peacock

Former Production Car world champion Toshi Arai is set for a different type of challenge back at home in Japan next month – Suzuka’s round of the World Touring Car Championship.

Arai will swap his usual Subaru Impreza Group N rally car for a fourth factory Chevrolet Cruze on October 24, alongside works drivers Yvan Muller (who is competing on the Rallye de France this weekend for the second consecutive year), Rob Huff and Alain Menu.

The 45-year-old is making his racing debut, but he’s got no plans for a long-term career change – yet. He’s not the first rally driver to take to the track though: here are five more of the best…

1.Colin McRae, British Touring Car Championship, Knockhill, 1992

McRae made a spectacular debut in the tin-top series but failed to make a new friend after taking out up-and-coming star Matt Neal. Neal’s father, Steve, went to seek out the rally hero afterwards, threatening to “rip off his head and shit down his neck.”

2.Markku Alen, Le Mans, 1980

The Finn made his Le Mans debut in 1980 driving a Lancia Beta, which he shared with Piercarlo Ghinzani and Gianfranco Brancatelli. The 1.4 litre turbo car – eligible for Le Mans at the time – retired with engine failure. At least it didn't rust, which was the fate of most Lancia Betas at the time.

3.Sandro Munari, Targa Florio, 1972

It was a much more successful outing for Sandro Munari at Sicily’s renowned but daunting Targa Florio. The Italian ace won the event sharing a Ferrari 312PB with Arturo Merzario. In the same year 'Il Drago' won his first Monte Carlo Rally with Lancia.

4.Kris Meeke, Irish Kart Grand Prix, 2011

MINI’s Northern Irish star won a gearbox kart race on home turf earlier this year. It may not have been the Targa Florio or Le Mans, but a win is still a win – and gearbox karts (tea trays powered by comparatively huge engines) are no doubt considerably more scary.

5.Richard Burns, Porsche Carrera Cup, 2000

The 2001 World Rally Champion was a huge Porsche fan – but probably not on the occasion of the 2000 British Grand Prix, when he was invited to take part in the Porsche Carrera Cup race. In true rally style, he rolled at the very beginning of the race following a midfield melee…