Petter Solberg will attend both events in what will be an emotional weekend in Britain
Photography by McKlein, Girardo & Co.
Words by David Evans, DirtFish Head of Media
What a difference a decade makes. British rally fans were beside themselves when Colin McRae landed the nation’s maiden World Rally Championship in 1995. Ten years later and the Rally GB mood was very different, when Michael ‘Beef’ Park was killed in an accident in Margam Park.
Both McRae and Park will be remembered, celebrated and honored at two separate events on one weekend next month.
Scotland’s Knockhill circuit will host its third McRae Rally Challenge on September 20/21, with family, friends, fans and, of course, stars from around the world of rallying joining in the celebration of McRae and co-driver Derek Ringer’s achievement three decades ago in November.
Further south on Sunday September 21, the Welsh Motorsport and Supercar Festival runs at Pembrey Circuit and will include a commemoration and celebration of Park’s life and career. He died while competing with Markko Märtin on the 2005 Rally GB.
Park and Märtin celebrated a famous victory at the 2003 Rally Finland
Getting between both events won’t be easy, but Petter Solberg is determined to do just that as he returns to the UK to remember two very good friends.
“For sure,” said Solberg, “this is going to be an emotional weekend, but it’s not often we have this chance to remember such great friends, to honor their memories and be among other friends and family.
“I would like to thank the organisers of the McRae Rally Challenge and the Welsh Motorsport and Supercar Festival for inviting me over.”
Solberg worked closely with McRae when he signed his first professional contract in the sport, driving for the same Ford team as the Scot. The pair soon became so much more than just team-mates.
“Colin was somebody I will always remember as such a good friend,” said Solberg.
“He helped me so much in the start of my career. Sometimes, you know, you can find these drivers who are a little bit afraid for the younger guy coming to the team – not Colin. He took me in the car on the test, he told me everything I asked. And I asked a lot!
“The years we had in the world championship together were so special, so many stories – including the one about him, me and Tommi [Mäkinen] being the last to leave the bar the night I got married.
“Colin was this incredible, fierce competitor who was also such an amazing, helpful, generous and lovely family guy. To be with Alison, Hollie, Jimmy, Margaret, Alister and the whole family in Scotland will be something very special for me. Celebrating what Colin and Derek [Ringer, co-driver] achieved in 1995 is fantastic. The way they won it, with such an amazing drive on the RAC Rally, was so typical of both of their abilities. We’ll never forget this year.”
Park was also a team-mate of Solberg’s, when they were all junior drivers at Subaru in 2001.
“It’s just not possible to remember ‘Beef’ without a smile on your face,” said Solberg. “When he pulled on the crash helmet, he was absolutely the biggest professional. But between the stages, and away from the rallies, he was such good company – always with a funny story.
“We were team-mates together at Subaru: me and Phil [Mills] and Beef with Markko [Märtin]. We were kind of the younger ones in the team, but we all worked together and had a great relationship.
“It will be really nice to go back to South Wales again – it’s been a long time since we were down there – and meet the fans and the friends from Beef. He was so loved in rallying and not just in Britain. I remember the kart race Markko organised after the accident – there was a monument unveiled for ‘Beef’ in Tallinn at the same time. I think it’s fair to say there was almost as much affection in Estonia for him as there was – and is – at home.”
Words:David Evans
Tags: Alister McRae, Colin McRae, Derek Ringer, McRae Rally Challenge, Michael Park, Petter Solberg, Phil Mills, Welsh Motorsport and Supercar Festival
Publish Date August 22, 2025 DirtFish
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