1. Graham Peter McRae was a racing driver from New Zealand.
14 Facts About Graham McRae
1. 2.
Graham McRae competed in the 1973 Indianapolis 500, finishing in 16th position and earning Rookie of the Year.
3.
Graham McRae won a number of rounds, but was hindered by some accidents, one serious, and impatience which earned him the nickname, 'Cassius' reflecting his strut and belief in the greatness of his own talent.
4.
Fields were strong in European F5000 at this time and Graham McRae was competing against former F1 drivers Brian Redman, Trevor Taylor, Mike Hailwood and Frank Gardner, all world class drivers and Peter Gethin and Howden Ganley in works backed McLarens.
5.
Graham McRae was Tasman Series Champion three years in a row, from 1971 to 1973, taking the US F5000 Championship crown in 1972, with three race wins.
6.
The US 5000 championship win in 1972 was a noted achievement against competent F5000 and World Championship sports car drivers David Hobbs and Sam Posey and Graham McRae won a lot of money and laurels, and drove with control despite competing in the 1972 Rothmans European Formula 5000 Championship, in which he placed third.
7.
Graham McRae was offered a drive in F1 at Nivelles when Jackie Stewart suffered an ulcer, but could not fit it into his demanding programme.
8.
Graham McRae did race for Frank Williams in the British GP the following year but it was an uncompetitive chassis, and a good start was ruined by the multi-car crash which stopped the race after a lap.
9.
Graham McRae contested the 1973 Rothmans 5000 European Championship, but recorded only one round win, at Mallory Park.
10.
Graham McRae debuted his new GM3 at the last US F5000 race in Riverside in 1976, and retired from midfield.
11.
Graham McRae followed this up in 1993 with a replica of the Porsche 356 Speedster.
12.
Graham McRae had imported a Porsche 356 Speedster from Vintage Speedsters of California to make the moulds for his production kits.
13.
In June 2000, Graham McRae set up the New Zealand based Graham McRae Cars Ltd.
14.
Graham McRae was struck off the register in June 2003.