[Morgan]

Confirmation from Ford:
Rally duo McRae and Grist to part company

Ford Rallye Sport driver Colin McRae and co-driver
Nicky Grist have decided to part with immediate
effect. Former co-driver Derek Ringer, with whom
34-year-old McRae won the 1995 world championship,
will partner the Scot for the final two rounds of this
season's FIA World Rally Championship in Australia and
Great Britain.

"This is a joint decision by myself and Nicky," said
McRae. "Our in-car relationship has been strained for
the past 12 months or so and after long discussions
we've decided that a change is the best way forward
for both of us. Neither of us wish to go into
specific details but this is an amicable parting and
myself and Nicky have today informed Ford Rallye Sport
of our decision."

"Since we joined forces in 1997, we've won 17 world
rallies with two different teams and enjoyed some
great moments. I wish Nicky well for the future and
thank him for his support over the past six seasons.

"I would like to finish the year, and my career with
Ford, in a positive fashion and that means going all
out for victory in Australia and Britain. My thoughts
are now focused on those two rallies and I'm looking
forward to Derek helping myself and Ford to a
successful end of the season," added McRae.

Grist said: "Having made the decision to split, we
have decided it is better to make it immediate and
have Derek alongside Colin for the final two rounds of
this year's championship in preparation for next
season in a new team. I have not yet thought about my
future and I'll take time to assess my options.
Co-driving is still a strong possibility and I would
like to stress that this decision does not signify my
retirement from the sport."

Ringer, also a Scot, has been released from his
contract with Mitsubishi. He joined McRae in his
junior days in the sport and the pair rose to the top,
winning the 1995 world title on the final round in
Britain. Their partnership ended after the 1996
season.

 

[gplsek]

funny, just friday he (Nicky) was talking about joining Citroen on the
WRC radio broadcast from New Zeland.

-george

 

[JTree]

I guess Col's "welsh wizard" comment hit a nerve.
JTree

 

[John Vanos]

Was that before or after their retirement? ;-)

 

[Tmachnik]

It was a pretty safe bet this was coming after seeing the incar footage immediately after their "off" in NZ. Very dirty looks were exchanged because of the "misunderstood pace note" and then they squabbled when Nicky was trying to get out of the car and Colin was grinding gears trying to get unstuck.... The last in a string of very public dissagreements between the two. Too bad.

 

[Topi]

- Nicky Grist said in one interview:" Driver is only an extension of the navigator. It's the navigator who drives the car, driver only folows his instructions..." and so on. So, according to this it was HE who crashed! What a moron.