Look back in history Sunday: Did the 1995 Rally NZ influence the outcome of the WRC title

| Photographer Credit: Peter Whitten

Heading into the 1995 RAC Rally, there were just two drivers’ tied up on 70-points each. It was a winner-takes-all for the final round of the World Rally Championship between Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae, both driving for the 555 Subaru World Rally Team.

Both had retired from two WRC rounds while McRae had won just one rally (NZ) but had finished on the podium twice and finished fifth in France.

Sainz had won two rallies (Monte Carlo and Portugal) but only finished one other, a fourth place in France.

The difference had been Rally NZ. McRae won the 1995 event, Sainz never turned up to compete due to a shoulder injury from a mountain bike accident.

The team at Dirfish, David Evans, Colin Clark and George Donaldson, talk through McRae’s title winning season. Why he was unbeatable at the RAC Rally and did Sainz not turning up to Rally NZ seal his title?

Benjamin Carrell is a freelance motorsport writer and currently edits talkmotorsport.co.nz. He writes for a number of Kiwi drivers and motorsport clubs. That's when he's not working in his horticultural day-job or training for the next road or mtb cycle race!

https://talkmotorsport.co.nz

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