They are best known for achieving gold medals at high speed but Sir Chris Hoy and Amy Williams swapped bicycle and sled for a car when they took part in the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally in Highland Perthshire on Saturday.
Six-time Olympic gold medal-winning track cyclist Sir Chris was co-driver for the late Colin McRae’s father Jimmy McRae, five times British rally champion but revealed he hopes to get behind the wheel next year.
Amy Williams, 31, who triumphed in the skeleton event at the Vancouver Winter Olympics at 2010, also has aspirations to compete in the motorsport.
The Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally, dedicated to the driver who died in a helicopter crash in 2007, is round seven of the eight-round Scottish Rally Championship.
Gallery: Olympians feel the need for speed at the Colin McRae Forest Stages Rally
Drivers tackle six stages over 45 competitive miles of Perthshire woodland at speeds topping 120mph. The series of tracks take in Sophia Wood, Craigvinean near Dunkeld and Errochty near Loch Tummel.
Sir Chris set off first in the course car that checks the route for the 88 competing teams while Williams took part in the two-wheel event as co-driver for motorsport pundit Tony Jardine.
At the finish line in Aberfeldy after the race, Sir Chris said: “That was an absolutely awesome experience.
“Being driven by someone as experienced as Jimmy meant I could relax and enjoy it. The fear factor was there because you’re going so fast and it’s really twisty and bumpy it’s almost like a roller coaster but I totally trusted Jimmy.
“I’ve always been a motor racing fan and I’ve driven a bit in the track but I really want to do more rallying now. It would be something to give me that adrenaline rush I love now that I’ve retired from cycling.
“I would love to get behind the wheel next year if I can find time in my diary and get the practice in. I always focus hard on things so would want to give it my all.”
Williams, from Bath, is hoping to gain an international co-driver’s licence ahead of the final round of the World Rally Championship in Wales next month.
She said: “I’m used to super speed and I absolutely love it. It doesn’t worry me. I didn’t look at the speedometer today as I was too busy navigating the route, but it wasn’t quite as extreme as the skeleton.
“In Vancouver, I was going at 92mph round tight bends on the Olympic track, just an inch from the ice.”
David Bogie and Kevin Rae were named Scottish rally champions after the race.