PARIS - Former world rally champion Colin McRae will replace Sebastien Loeb for the Rally of Turkey from October 13-15, the Belgian Kronos team confirmed Tuesday.
The 38-year-old Scot, the world champion in 1995, steps in for Citroen's Loeb, who broke his right arm while practising sport last week.
McRae was championship runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001, and third in 1998. He helped Subaru to the world manufacturers' title in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and Citroen in 2003.
McRae last competed in Australia at the end of 2005 in a Skoda Fabia. Loeb, 32, who is bidding for a third straight world rally title, leads the standings after 12 of the 16 events by 35 points from Finn Marcus Gronholm.
He needs just five more points to win the world title a third straight time.
There are four races left this season - Turkey, Australia (October 27-29), New Zealand (November 17-19) and Britain (December 1-3).
But Loeb admitted that he may not be fit even for the Rally of Australia. The Citroen Xsara driver fractured the humerus bone in his upper arm during mountain bike training in Switzerland.
"It's still too early to know how much time I need. Australia looks a bit close regarding the injury I have. I don't want to push things."
He welcomed the choice of McRae. "Of the drivers available and who want to race he was the one with the most successess, the best speed," he said. "He hasn't raced for a while, he's lost contact with the championship but he's without any doubt the best choice at the moment."
10/03/2006 17:45 GMT