Hollie McRae makes rally debut alongside grandfather at McRae Rally Challenge

Fife, Scotland — Hollie McRae stepped into the passenger seat for her grandfather Jimmy McRae at the McRae Rally Challenge in Fife, making her rally debut beside the 81-year-old veteran on the Knockhill Racing Circuit. The event honors the late Colin McRae, who became the youngest world rally champion 30 years ago.

Co-driving for Jimmy, Hollie handed pace notes and hazard information as they circled the Knockhill track in a Ford Escort Mark II emblazoned with their surnames.

Before the event, Hollie posted on Instagram describing herself as a 'late-bloomer' and joking that she was 'making up for lost time in the rally world.' She also hinted she could move into the driver's seat after obtaining her rally licence towards the end of last year. 'No one else I'd rather be sat beside,' she captioned an emotional photo of herself with her grandfather.

The McRae Rally Challenge brought together Scottish sporting figures such as cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, former Le Mans winner Allan McNish and four-time IndyCar champion Dario Franchitti to watch the family honor Colin McRae's legacy. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Olympic cyclist's cancer fundraiser.

Hollie, who trained as a teacher, had previously said she shunned racing because she feared failing to live up to her father's record. But in recent months she has embraced rallying, writing on social media that she had dived head first into the sport and that it was time to swim, joking 'someone get the armbands.'