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Rally Champ Feared Dead

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The Associated Press

Published: September 17, 2007

LONDON - Former World Rally champion Colin McRae was believed to be among four people killed in a helicopter crash in Scotland, police said Sunday.

McRae, Britain's best-known rally driver, was believed to be on board the helicopter, which was owned by him and crashed Saturday in a wooded area near his home in Lanark, police said.

McRae's agent, Jean-Eric Freudiger, was quoted as saying the 39-year-old driver was piloting the helicopter in reports in The Sunday Times and the Sunday Telegraph. The reports also said his 5-year-old son, Johnny, also was on board.

Calls to Freudiger's Geneva office weren't immediately answered.

Police said that four people were on board the helicopter, all of whom were feared dead. The aircraft was badly burned, making it impossible for police to immediately identify the occupants.

McRae is a licensed pilot who often flies in the area, police said. It wasn't immediately known from where the helicopter had taken off or where it was headed.

McRae was the World Rally champion in 1995 and runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001. He won 25 races in a World Rally Championship career that ran from 1987 to 2004.

BELGIAN GRAND PRIX: Kimi Raikkonen won the Belgian Grand Prix for the third straight time, beating Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa on Sunday in the first race since Formula One was rocked by a $100 million fine in the sport's spy scandal.
World champion Fernando Alonso took third ahead of McLaren teammate Lewis Hamilton after an opening corner duel, reducing the rookie's lead in the drivers' standings to two points with three races remaining.

Raikkonen's victory only looked in doubt when Massa launched a late attack with three of the 44 laps to go. When it was clear Massa would not get past the Finn, the two drivers eased up to coast at the checkered flag.

With his victory, Raikkonen also maintained his outside chance to win the world title.

NHRA: Gary Scelzi topped the Funny Car field in the O'Reilly NHRA Mid-South Nationals, edging teammate Jack Beckman by 0.0013 seconds in the final at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Scelzi's Dodge Charger crossed the line in 4.886 seconds at 314.61 mph, while Beckman's finished in 4.892 seconds at 310.55 mph.

Pro Stock driver Dave Connolly once again outran former points leader Greg Anderson in the final for his sixth victory of the year.

Top Fuel pilot Melanie Troxel took out three of the men in the Countdown to Four Top Fuel field, including Bob Vandergriff Jr., Brandon Bernstein, and Doug Herbert in the final, 4.728 seconds at 313.22 mph against Herbert's 4.901 seconds at 290.57 mph.

Top Fuel points leader Tony Schumacher was upset in Round 1, but avoided big damage in the standings when Rod Fuller and Larry Dixon fell in Round 2.

Pro Stock rider Andrew Hines raced to his third win in a row and surged into the Powerade lead by 24 points.

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