McRae’s 1995 season started badly, with no hint that he would end it as World Rally Champion and the youngest ever winner of the title. However, by dint of a superb winning drive in New Zealand, and a controversial second place in Catalunya, McRae and Ringer started the last event of the year, their home rally, equal on points with Subaru team-mates Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya.
The result was never really in doubt, despite suffering a puncture in Pundershaw and losing two minutes, McRae simply pulverised the opposition to win the rally and become Britain’s first World Rally Champion.
In Catalunya McRae and Ringer were classified second behind team mates Sainz and Moya after Dave Richards, Subaru’s team manager, imposed team orders. Colin initially did not agree with this and posted a series of fast stage times. However, he finally assented and clocked into the penultimate time control late, giving Sainz and Moya the victory.