Max McRae will tackle his first full British Rally Championship (BRC) campaign this season, driving a Tagai Racing Technology-run Citroën C3 Rally2 with MRF Tyres.
The 20-year-old Scot tackled four BRC rounds last season, but will step-up to the full six-event calendar with the Hungarian-based team in 2025. He closed out last year on the highest possible note, with fastest time on the final stage of the season-closing Cambrian Rallly.
Much as Max is keen to continue in that same vein, he’s realistic about his experience of – and the competition in – the premier British series. Of the four events he started in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 last season, he finished three of them comfortably in the top-10, including a fine fourth on the Cambrian.
“I’m definitely looking to build and to kick on from last year,” he said. “I’m so excited to have the full season ahead of me – this is a programme I can really get stuck into. I tested the Citroën for the first time in Hungary on Wednesday and I was really impressed. We worked a lot on the Tarmac set-up, but it was a car which immediately gave me confidence.
“Yes, the car is new for me, but the team’s not. I drove with TRT in the Junior European Rally Championship last season. I know the team and they know me. I have full faith in them, they’re great guys!”
As well as getting used to Citroën, Max was also running MRF Tyres for the first time.
“I was definitely impressed with the feel from the MRF Tyres – that said, the conditions were pretty tricky. We got some snow around lunchtime and it felt like a full Monte Carlo test! I’m not sure we’re going to get that on the first round in Britain…
With eight British titles to the McRae name already (five for Jimmy, two for Uncle Colin and one for father Alister), Max is well aware of the weight of expectation.
“I can understand that,” he said. “People will see me coming in with the Citroën and the expectation is that I’m going to be challenging at the front. Trust me, nobody wants that more than me, if only to stop Gramps and Dad reminding me that they’re already done it!
“This is another learning year for me, there are events I haven’t done before and it’s a new car and new tyre for me, but I’m definitely hoping to be pushing up at the front. Winning rallies, chasing the championship? Let’s see.
“I’ve got an awesome car, awesome team in TRT and some really great people and partners around me. Last year ended on a high, I really enjoyed the Cambrian, we were close to the sharp end after we’d had a good test and, like I said, that’s where I’m hoping to pick up on the first round in East Riding.”
Fellow Scot, Cameron Fair will continue to co-drive for Max this season. Also remaining alongside the rising star are partners DirtFish, Wera Tools, Asset Alliance, Optimum Eco Group and WS Transportation.
