Yeah, this isn’t Top Gear or Fifth Gear related, but I’m sure many of you were Colin McRae fans, so I’m posting anyway.

The former rally driving champion Colin McRae was killed and his five year-old son feared dead in a helicopter crash yesterday (it’s Sunday now in the UK. -Viper) afternoon. The aircraft came down in Jerviswood, Lanarkshire, half a mile from the family’s home and burst into flames just after 4pm.

Jean-Eric Freudiger, McRae’s agent, said the 39-year-old driver had been piloting the helicopter himself. Also on board were believed to be his son Johnny, another adult - said by locals to be a school friend of McRae - and another child. McRae’s wife Alison and their daughter Hollie, 9, were not on board, friends said.

More details at the Times Online and discussion on our forums.

Rest in peace, mate.

UPDATE: The Telegraph has a good article / obit. Worth checking out.