Magalhaes wins first Colin McRae Flat Out Trophy

Magalhaes was handed the prestigious award by a panel of judges consisting of IRC’s Motorsport Development Manager Jean-Pierre Nicolas, Gilbert Roy, Eurosport Events’ Director of Editorial and Programme Development, and Colin’s father Jim McRae.

It followed his maiden IRC victory on last weekend’s Sata Rallye Acores when the 30-year-old doggedly fought back from a gearbox fault in his Peugeot Sport Portugal-run 207 Super 2000 to regain first place on the final stage of the challenging gravel event. Kris Meeke, who battled several punctures to finish second, and Andreas Mikkelsen, who recovered from a scary moment when he encountered a herd of cows to claim fourth were shortlisted for the award.

"It’s a pleasure to give this trophy to Bruno," said Nicolas. "After discussing with Jimmy McRae and Gilbert Roy we decided in this rally the fighting spirit of Colin was best shown by Bruno who has done a really fantastic rally. We hope he will fight again on the next rally to compete for the second trophy."

After accepting the award from Nicolas, Magalhaes said: "It’s a big honour for me because Colin is my hero. He was the driver who impressed me the most. I remember him in Rally of Portugal in 1999 when he won the first two special stages by one minute over the other guys and won the rally. He was incredible so for me it’s an honour to receive this gift because Colin is a hero."

Jim McRae added: "Even though he had good knowledge of the stages from before, he’s new to the IRC so to go at the pace he did obviously proves he’s got a load of talent. I’m very pleased for him and it’s also a great thing to hear that Colin was his hero when he was growing up."

The Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Trophy will be presented on all remaining rounds of the IRC with an end of season trophy, the Colin McRae IRC Flat Out Driver of the Year, also being awarded at the IRC’s end of season award ceremony.

It was conceived following the formation of an official partnership last month between Eurosport Events, the promoter of the IRC, and Colin McRae Vision, a charity established following the death of the 1995 world rally champion, his young son Johnny and two family friends in a helicopter accident in 2007, which aims to improve health and education for children around the world.