Download Colin McRae Rally 3 (Windows)

The game with official patch v1.1 and SilentPatch has been tested on Windows 7 64-bit, Windows 8, Windows 10 and Windows 11, it works fine. With SilentPatch the game correctly supports widescreen and high resolutions up to 4K. You may experience some small troubles when you play the game on modern systems, check our Guide and Notes for details

Install & play guide:

• Mount the disc image. You will need the utility for mounting disc image files, like WinCDEmu, UltraISO, Alcohol 52%/Alcohol 120% or Daemon Tools Lite
• Install the game. It is recommended to install the game not in default path, but in some other, non-system folder, like C:/Games/Colin McRae Rally 3, so you won't have troubles with NoCD or fixes
• When the installation process will ask for CD2 - mount the disc image of CD2. Do the same when the installation process will ask to enter next discs
• If you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - make sure that you enabled DirectPlay if you didn't make it before, read this or this guide how to do it (if you're using Windows 7 or older - just install DirectX from the disc)
• After you installed the game - install the official patch v1.1
• Then download the archive with SilentPatch, extract the archive and copy all files from DRM-free Patcher folder to the folder with installed game. Run setup.bat as an administrator and wait few seconds until it removes DRM protection from the game
• After that copy all files from Silent Patch folder to the folder with installed game, the SilentPatch will be automatically installed to the game
• Launch the game and play. The game with SilentPatch should work as it is, with no compatibility mode required. If the game doesn't work - try to launch it in compatibility mode with old version of Windows (Windows 2000 or XP, etc.)

What is SilentPatch for Colin McRae Rally 3:

• SilentPatch is a project of coder Silent to enhance Colin McRae Rally 3. We highly recommend to use it if you want to play the game. That patch is basically a fan remaster of the game, it changes the game in many aspects - improves compatibility with modern systems and fixes many old bugs, adds correct support for widescreen and high resolutions up to 4K, makes the game work correct with multi-monitor and ultrawide setups, allows to enable windowed and borderless windowed modes in the game, fixes anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering to make it work correct with modern hardware, etc. etc. Plus it adds some useful gameplay features, like option to change Field of View (FOV) in settings, or play with vertical and horizontal split-screen on your choice. Read this develop's diary or watch showcase video to see what was fixed or enhanced
• SilentPatch also has some optional addons, like Language Pack that adds support for 7 languages, or HD interface, here's the guide by Silent how to install SilentPatch and addons (we also mirrored all files on our website with notes)

Notes:

• If the installation doesn't start - try to launch Setup.exe in compatibility mode with old version of Windows (98, 2000 or XP)
• It is recommended to install all versions of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable, and NET Framework for the correct work of the game for the correct work of the game
• Also it is recommended to install RAD Video Tools and K-Lite Codec Pack for the correct work of the game
• The game works on DirectX 9, so if you're using Windows 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 - you need to enable DirectPlay: Go to Control Panel, and select 'Programs'. Select 'Turn Windows features on and off', click on 'Legacy Components' and check the box 'DirectPlay'. Select OK, once the installation is done, restart your computer
• Patch v1.1 fixes some troubles and most importantly it fixes bug with Vsync, so make sure to install it. For full changelog check this page. Also, for some reason, in patch installer it is written as "Patch 1.0", but looks like it's mistake, because the patch actually updates the game to version 1.1
• NoCD for version 1.1 showed few generic warnings about suspicious file, nothing to worry about it, it is safe to use
• HD UI by Bekoha add high details elements for user interface which looks especially good when you play the game with high resolutions. That mod requires SilentPatch for the correct work, it supports all languages that are included in SilentPatch
• Language Pack for SilentPatch adds support for all official text translations used together - English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Polish, and Czech. If you want to use HD UI by Bekoha and Language Pack together - first install Language Pack and only after HD UI, otherwise you will have broken fonts in game
• Nicky Grist rally co-driver wasn't presented in Polish retail version but was available in other releases. If you play Polish version, you can use Nicky Grist Pack for SilentPatch to add him in the game
• If you don't want to use SilentPatch - you can just install the game with patch v1.1 and use Widescreen fix, it is edited exe-file + files from dgVoodoo. That fix adds widescreen support for 16:9 display ratio, also it works as NoCD. If you plan to play the game that way - run it in compatibility mode with Windows XP SP2, for better performance. For Windows 11 users - run in compatibility mode with Windows Vista or Windows 7
• If you have not 16:9 display or simply doesn't want to use that fix - you can enable any supported resolution by edit of Windows Registry, read this guide
• Split screen mode does not work correctly on modern operating systems causing the camera to freeze on a texture, but it was fixed in SilentPatch, so we recommend to use it if you want to play in split screen. If for some reason you don't want to use SilentPatch - try to run the game in compatibility mode with Windows XP SP2, it should fix split screen bug
• There's a common bug when in-game resolution setting has (NULL) value causing the game to crash, especially on multi-monitors setups. That bug is fixed in SilentPatch, so use it if you see that error
• Sometimes when the game runs with too high framerare, menu animations are sped up and in-game flags/ribbons animations are too fast. That can be fixed by enabling Vsync in game settings and setting refresh rate of your display to 60 Hz. Or you can use SilentPatch, it has settings for refresh rate, you can change it in SilentPatchCMR3.ini. As alternative, you can limit the game's framerate to 60 FPS, in control panel of you video card or with one of framerate limit utilities
• The game has controller support, however first you need to connect both keyboard and controller, then navigate with keyboard to Options and reconfigure the controller. Also, pausing the game using a controller requires this patch, that patch also required if you use XInput-compatible controllers
• Some of fan translations may not be compatible with SilentPatch because they use custom fonts. In that case play the game with NoCD or Widescreen fix
• The game had bonus codes that could unlock some cars in the game, before to get bonus code you should enter the special code from inside the disc box on official website, but it doesn't work anymore. Luckily, Silent made generator for bonus codes, it is available here
• Don't forget to check PCGamingWiki if you have troubles, it's very useful!