The daughter of rally driving legend Colin McRae is following her dad into the world of motorsports – but will be sticking to the trackside.
Hollie McRae, 23, whose world-champion dad died in a helicopter crash, will be working as a commentator rather than driving as she becomes a motorsport broadcast journalist.
She has already had a stint at Fife’s Knockhill racing track and will be interviewing drivers at the historic festival Rally Legends in San Marino later this year.
Hollie, who grew up in Lanark, said: “Motor racing is very much in my blood. I suppose I was always going to have that natural draw to motorsport purely because of the family connection but it’s also something I really love.
“I’ve never wanted to be a driver – I’ve spent my life only in the passenger seat of racing cars. When it comes to anything more than driving to work or the shops, it’s really not my thing. But I started my own YouTube channel when I was 15 and built up quite a few followers as I vlogged my way through university.
“Last year I got the opportunity to film a few videos at motor-racing events for a social media company, which gave me a taste of what it might be like being a motorsports presenter, which is something I’d love to try.
“Now I’ve also filmed a few videos for the same company – DirtFish – at Knockhill and did some live interviews on stage and really enjoyed it.
“I’m going to Rally Legends in San Marino later in the year and I’ll be doing something similar there – panel work – and a few stars will be over for that, which will be very exciting. I’m definitely not saying I’ll be the next Lee McKenzie but we’ll see.”
Hollie’s dad died in September 2007 when the helicopter the 39-year-old was flying crashed into trees near their family home in Lanark.
Her brother Johnny, five, also died in the crash along with his school mate Ben Porcelli, six, and family friend Graeme Duncan, 37.
Hollie remembers little about the time surrounding the tragedy but has fond memories of her dad and his love of motorsport.
She said: “Because I was so young when my dad died, I don’t have too many raw memories about what happened. My memory of that time is all very blurry. It’s something I remember snippets of, small conversations here and there, but I don’t really remember everything as a whole.
“Your mind does sort of block out any negative memories but I’ve got lots of very special family moments that are still strong in my head.
“Racing-wise, I don’t remember my dad competing in regular rallies but one really vivid memory I have was when he did the Dakar rally in 2004 and that he was away for ages.
“All the families of the drivers had been given a little pack with a map in it. Johnny and I would sit with the map every day to trace the route of the rally and where dad would have travelled that day and see where his next stop was.
“I remember him coming back and telling us stories of being in Africa and the different animals and landscapes he saw. Other people’s dads went down the road for their job and my dad went all the way to Africa. I thought it was very cool.”
Hollie, who graduated with a teaching degree from Aberdeen University, has spent the last two years working as a primary school teacher in Glasgow.
Her video blogs about training as a teacher and the first years of her job have generated thousands of followers.
Now, two years into her teaching career, she has decided to take a break and focus on travel and adventures, including pursuing a career as a motorsports broadcast journalist.
She said: “I’m taking what happens next very much as it comes. Vocation-wise, teaching will always be something that I’m drawn to – whether that’s teaching in a traditional sense in the classroom or using the skills that I’ve learned in another way.
“I feel while the opportunity is here to travel and work within motorsport, I’d be silly to turn it down.
“Growing up, my mum has told me all these great stories about going to different rallies with my dad and she’s always encouraged me to find what I love and make memories for myself.
“I’ve always been conscious I didn’t want to be seen as piggy-backing on my family name or doing something because of who my dad was.
“I feel like I’ve found an area of motorsport where I can do something I’m really interested in and where I can continue our link with motorsports – but in a different way.”
Hollie says she feels lucky to have so many interviews of her dad she can watch.
She also loves speaking with racing fans who enjoyed watching and following her father – and her grandpa Jimmy McRae, a five-times winner of the British Rally Championships, and her uncle Alister McRae, also a rally driver.
She said: “It means a lot to me when I go to places like Knockhill and meet people who say they were influenced by my dad – and by my gramps and uncle too.
“I feel so lucky when they share stories about him with me and I’m lucky I can watch YouTube videos of my dad doing interviews, which keeps my memory of him a bit more fresh and his voice alive.”
Hollie isn’t the only member of the new generation of McRaes who is entering the world of motor racing.
Her cousin Max McRae, 18, who grew up in Perth, Australia, is a rising star in rally racing.
Max has been competing in the Australian Rally Championships and finished second in the National Junior Championships in Queensland.
He recently took part in a number of rally events in the UK, including racing against his grandad and dad at the McRae Rally Challenge at Knockhill, Fife.
The event saw a section of the track at Scotland’s national motorsport centre renamed McRae Corner in memory of Colin.
Max said: “I’ve always been obsessed with rally racing.
“I just love the absolute commitment while driving, the speed of it all and how fearless you have to be.
“My grandfather and dad have always told me to put as much effort as I can into motor-sport, whether that’s on the stages or training in the gym.”
