As Colin McRae's daughter Hollie prepares for first rally, how did her father die and how many WRCs did he win?

Thirty years ago, McRae made his rally debut and went on to become one of the most prolific names in motorsport.

He sadly lost his life in a helicopter crash in 2007, which also killed his son Johnny, family friend Graeme Duncan and his child, Ben. McRae’s family stepped back from the motorsport world after his death, but now his daughter Hollie, 26, is getting her big break in the same sport.

In the upcoming Roger Albert Clark (RAC) Rally at Kielder Forest, Northumberland, Hollie will make her debut on one of the toughest special stages in the UK, behind the wheel of a Mini with Jon Armstrong, one of the FIA European Rally Championship's top drivers, as her co-driver.

Speaking to BBC News, 26-year-old Hollie said: “If you'd told me a couple of months ago I wouldn't have believed that it was going to be happening. This opportunity to compete in the Mini challenge came up and I thought absolutely, why not.

“They sent over the calendar and it turns out the only weekend I was free was the RAC. So I've well and truly gone in head first, but it will be a good experience.

“When I first started getting involved in the sport and getting passenger runs, mum was like 'Oh god, not another one, what are we going to do now'. But I think that she does trust that I'm doing it for the right reasons, I'm going out to have fun, I'm going to be safe and all of this sort of stuff.

“She is my biggest supporter, so I hope she'll be able to come along and cheer on from the sidelines.”

Colin McRae became synonymous with his blue Suberu Impreza in the 1990s and early 2000s, becoming the youngest ever winner of the World Rally Championship in 1995. The Brit has famed for his aggressive driving style, leaving nothing on the table every time he got into the car.

Although this was his only WRC title, McRae also won the British Rally Championship on two occasions. On the world stage he found himself in a fierce on-track rivalry with Finnish driver Tommi Makinen, who won four consecutive championships, and later the likes of Petter Solberg and Sebastien Loeb.

He retired at the end of the 2006 season, with the Rally of Turkey that year being his final victory.

As well as preparing for her rallying debut, Hollie has built a social media following through vlogs on YouTube, has marshalled at WRC events and had even begun a career as a primary school teacher, before switching over to motorsport.

But racing is in her blood; before her father, her grandfather Jimmy McRae was a British five-time champion in the 1980s, and her uncle Max also competed in rally cars.