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FORD
Rallye Sport driver Colin McRae and co-driver Nicky Grist
have decided to part with immediate effect.
Former
co-driver Derek Ringer, with whom 34-year-old McRae won the
1995 world championship, will partner the Scot for the final
two rounds of this season's FIA World Rally Championship in
Australia and Great Britain.
“This
is a joint decision by myself and Nicky,” said McRae.
“Our in-car relationship has been strained for the past
12 months or so and after long discussions we’ve decided
that a change is the best way forward for both of us. Neither
of us wish to go into specific details but this is an amicable
parting and myself and Nicky have today informed Ford Rallye
Sport of our decision.”
“Since
we joined forces in 1997, we’ve won 17 world rallies
with two different teams and enjoyed some great moments. I
wish Nicky well for the future and thank him for his support
over the past six seasons.
“I
would like to finish the year, and my career with Ford, in
a positive fashion and that means going all out for victory
in Australia and Britain. My thoughts are now focused on those
two rallies and I’m looking forward to Derek helping
myself and Ford to a successful end of the season,” added
McRae.
Grist
said: “Having made the decision to split, we have decided
it is better to make it immediate and have Derek alongside
Colin for the final two rounds of this year’s championship
in preparation for next season in a new team. I have not yet
thought about my future and I’ll take time to assess
my options. Co-driving is still a strong possibility and I
would like to stress that this decision does not signify my
retirement from the sport.”
Ringer,
also a Scot, has been released from his contract with Mitsubishi.
He joined McRae in his junior days in the sport and the pair
rose to the top, winning the 1995 world title on the final
round in Britain. Their partnership ended after the 1996 season.
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