LONDON, Sept 16, 2007 (AFP) - Former world rally champion Colin McRae and
his five-year-old son were among four people killed in a helicopter crash this
weekend in southern Scotland, police said Sunday.

Scotsman McRae, his son Johnny and two family friends including a
six-year-old boy were killed when the 39-year-old driver's Squirrel Two
aircraft crashed in the grounds of his Lanark home on Saturday.

Tributes poured in from the sporting and political arenas in honour of
McRae, who in 1995 was the first Briton to win the world rally championship.

"We believe that the group were just returning from a visit to the nearby
village of Quarter around 1605 (1505 GMT) hours yesterday, when it appears that
the helicopter got into difficulty and crashed within the grounds of Mr McRae's
family home," Chief Superintendent Tim Love said in a statement issued by
Strathclyde Police.

"Our officers are working closely with the Air Accident Investigation Team
who are presently at the scene.

"Family liaison officers have been appointed and are with the families to
help them through this distressing and difficult time."

The two others were named as six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and
Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France.

A police spokeswoman stressed that the bodies had not yet been formally
identified.

The crash wreckage, which was in thick woods, was so bad it was initially
difficult to determine how many people were involved.

Colin Steele McRae, a licensed pilot, was born in Lanark on August 5,
1968.

He had two children, Hollie and Johnny, with his wife Alison.

Nicky Grist, McRae's co-driver since 1997, expressed his sorrow Sunday.

"He was such a great character and will be sorely missed," he told Sky
News, adding that the death of Johnny and the two friends made it an even
greater tragedy.

"Johnny adored his father and loved everything about cars," Grist said.

"I am sure he was the new rally driver for the McRae family."

David Richards, McRae's former boss at Subaru - where he enjoyed much of
his rallying success - described his death as "a terrible loss."

"He had a competitive spirit like I've never seen," Richards told the BBC.

"He was one of those people who had an extraordinary spirit that you just
can't define."

Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, said McRae's death was a "great
tragedy."

"Colin McRae was an outstanding Scottish sportsman of international stature
and achievement," he said.

Formula One driver and fellow Scot David Coulthard described McRae as "a
remarkable man who wore his heart on his sleeve and was the epitome of a racer;
fearless and attacking, yet he remained true to his roots and grounded despite
the international fame and recognition that he achieved."

"The world is a sorrier place without him."

McRae competed in his first rally on the World Rally Championship circuit
in Sweden in 1987, earning his first win in New Zealand in 1993.

Driving a Subaru Impreza 555, the Scot won the 1995 World Rally
Championship in a nail-biting finish on home soil and was the runner-up in
1996, 1997 and 2001.

He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen
Elizabeth II in 1996.

The driving legend was also known for "Colin McRae Rally" - a series of
racing video games, played on many platforms, which have sold more than eight
million copies worldwide.

The rally driver's official website, www.colinmcrae.com, was changed to a
black screen on Sunday morning, prior to police confirmation of his death.

"I'm not really a fan of computers," McRae was quoted as saying on his
website before it went offline.

He added: "When it comes to computers and electronics, give me 300 brake
horsepower, a winding road - and no brakes, and then you've got my
attention!"