MOTORSPORTFORUM can reveal that former World Rally champion Colin McRae is considering a shock move to the US NASCAR stock car series.
The Scot is considering his options after the introduction of the FIA's third driver rule has left the 1995 world champion without competitive options for next season. Only current employer Citroen has space for McRae and they look likely to stick with Carlos Sainz for 2004 after re-signing Sebastien Loeb. With Peugeot, Ford and Subaru having all filled their two top slots, McRae has been left with a frustratingly limited set of options for 2004.
"I am not guaranteed a top team seat in the world rally championship for 2004 and if that remains that case I will walk away."
"I have said all along that if I can't get a competitive car then I will not drive for one of the lesser teams. Instead, I'm going to look at other forms of motorsport, and specifically NASCAR," said McRae after the Rally of Australia.
McRae guested in the UK version of the NASCAR series, the ASCAR Days of Thunder championship, last year and set the fastest time for a rookie ever. The Scot is confident that he can make a big impact in the NASCAR series after years controlling high powered rally cars on loose surfaces.
"Let's face it, if you can handle a car at hugely fast speeds on loose gravel and ice, then keeping it in a straight line on tarmac is pretty much a dawdle."
The FIA's controversial third driver rule prevents teams from running a third car for a driver with a podium finish or better in the WRC since 2001. The rule has effectively forced top teams such as Citroen and Peugeot, who had been running three car teams, to drop to two cars with the option to run a third car for an untested youngster.
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