Rally enthusiasts will converge on Lanark on Saturday, August 30, with their Subarus — the team which McRae put on the world stage — before heading down the M74 to the team's rally HQ in Banbury, Oxfordshire.

Drivers will later speed around the team's two-mile test-track in Warwickshire, before spelling out McRae's name in 100-foot-high letters, together with a Saltire made entirely from Subarus.

Organisers expect to easily break the current world record of the largest gathering of a manufacturer's cars, which is held by Fiat with 500 vehicles.

Colin's dad Jimmy McRae has been asked to lead the drivers out of his home town.

He said: "I will be leading them from Lanark onto the M74.
"There are more than 300 drivers starting from Lanark with another 300 joining en route and I'm sure there will be more drivers meeting at the racetrack.

"I have spoken to Prodrive, who run the Subaru rally team.

''They have been very helpful and have bent over backwards for the cause.

"It's unbelievable that when so many people think of Subaru they think of Colin.

"There is so much interest and there is going to be a fair bit of money raised as well, which will go to a new charitable foundation set-up in memory of Colin."

McRae was tragically killed last September, along with son Johnny and two family friends.

The helicopter accident shocked people in Scotland and rally fans around the world.

Dave Richards was Colin's boss at Subaru when he won the world title in 1995 and helped the team win the manufacturers crown in 1996 and 1997.

He believes the gathering is a fitting tribute to one of the greatest rally drivers of all time.

"Colin was not only an exceptional driver, but also a remarkable person and a great friend to everyone at Prodrive," he said.

"Single-handedly he brought the sport of rallying into everyone's living room, whether it was through his sideways exploits in the forest or through the many video games which bore his name.

"I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Colin than a gathering of so many Subarus — a car for which he did so much to make as popular as it is today."

And Subaru is not the only firm gearing up to honour one of Scotland's true sporting heroes.

Preparations are being made at Knockhill Racing Circuit in Fife for the opening of the new Colin McRae Centre, which is due to be completed by next Easter.

Knockhill events director Stuart Gray said: "The idea came about following Colin's death.

"We have been in discussions with the family since December last year and we are hopeful it will be opened by Easter next year.

"Colin was a real friend of the circuit and this will be a great way to honour him."

For more information or to join the Colin McRae convoy visit www.mcrae-gathering.co.uk.