THE legacy of one of Scotland's most illustrious motorsport families has been marked by Knockhill Racing Circuit.

To celebrate an association that stretches over four decades, the West Fife venue has named a corner at its iconic track after the McRae family.

The team at Scotland's motorsport centre said they were "thrilled and honoured" to be naming the right-hander at the bottom of Duffus Dip, turning from the track on to the loose rallycross stage, as McRae's at all rally and rallycross events.

An official ribbon ceremony will take place with members of both the family and the Knockhill team in July when the McRae Rally Challenge is held at the circuit.

Stuart Gray, director of events at Knockhill, said: "We are thrilled and honoured that the family have approved the naming of the corner after all the McRaes that have competed here, with a third generation (Max McRae, from Perth, Australia) doing so at the McRae Rally Challenge in July.

"We asked Jim and the family and they are delighted that their name will forever be part of the circuit that has featured in so much of their sporting activities. It is the perfect corner to carry the illustrious family name, as it combines the two disciplines of rallying and racing."

Jimmy McRae was the first of the family to race on the track at Knockhill and is currently the record winner of the British Rally Championship, having claimed five titles in 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987 and 1988, and also competed in the World Rally Championship.

Two of his three sons, Colin and Alister, followed him into the sport, with Colin, who died in 2007, winning the British Rally Championship in 1991 and 1992.

In 1995, he also became the first Scot – and the youngest driver – to win the World Rally Championship title, while Alister was a British Rally Championship winner in the same year.

Alister's son, Max, is currently carving out a career for himself in rally driving, and three generations of the family – Jimmy, Alister and Max – will attend the McRae Rally Challenge, held over the weekend of July 2-3.

The invitational event, which will be run for the second time, will recognise and celebrate the achievements of the McRae family, with spectators able to enjoy two, one-day single rallies; a power-stage finale; a junior rally event; and a head-to-head 'battle of the McRae's'.

In addition, Knockhill are set to welcome former world rally champions to the event. For more information, visit www.knockhill.com.