BBC News | SPORT | Burns storms to rally victory

Richard Burns has won a second successive Rally of Great Britain after extending his lead during the final day of the event.

The Subaru driver was almost unbeatable throughout the day in the Welsh forests.

I tried very hard throughout, but not on every single stage. If you do that you are going to have a problem and go off.

Richard Burns
He finished one minute and 48 seconds from Subaru team-mate Juha Kankkunen.

The final leg saw a series of high profile retirements, including world champion Tommi Makinen, Toyota pair Carlos Sainz and Didier Auriol, and local hero Gwyndaf Evans.

The man lying in third place after two days, Marcus Gronholm, had the luckiest escape of all after a giant accident saw him roll his Peugeot six times.

Tommi Makinen on his way to another British retirement

Burns had no such trouble, with a result which secures him a second place overall in the World Drivers Championship behind Makinen.

It was his third rally win of the season - and second in a row - after wins in Greece and then in Australia earlier this month.

Burns was fastest on 11 of the 15 Welsh forest stages, and overcame a fire under his bonnet on Monday to emerge from the woods triumphant.

On Tuesday his overnight lead of 29 seconds was never under threat despite a late puncture.

"It is difficult enough to win the rally for a first time where there is so much pressure on you," said Burns.

"But to come and do it a second time I was a lot more relaxed about it and enjoyed it more.

"I tried very hard throughout, but not on every single stage. If you do that you are going to have a problem and go off. When the conditions have been good I have pushed really hard."

Burns' rivals fell by the wayside as they desperately chased the Oxford-based driver.

Makinen dropped out between stages 19 and 20 due to an overheating engine in his Mitsubishi.

Burns was fastest on two-thirds of the forest stages

The Finn has never placed higher than sixth in the British game.

Gronholm escaped from a giant barrel roll through the forests for Peugeot, who also lost French driver Francois Delacour on the final day.

The Finn's exit meant the Subarus were without a close challenger, and third-placed Finn Harry Rovenpera of SEAT finished almost five minutes behind Burns.

Sainz was forced out on the final day for the second year in succession, and was joined by team-mate Auriol who lost the championship runners-up slot as a result.

Gwyndaf Evans: Freewheeled with one stage to go

The late retirements allowed Skoda their best British finish, with Belgium's Bruno Thiry bringing their car home in fourth.

But the chances of a second British driver finishing in the top ten went when Welshman Evans retired after the penultimate stage while lying eighth.

His demise came despite setting a time as he rolled downhill across the finish with the engine of his SEAT having already dead.

Leading final positions:

1 R Burns (Gbr) Subaru 3hrs 53mins 43.3secs
2 J Kankkunen (Fin) Subaru at 1min 48.2secs
3 H Rovanpera (Fin) SEAT at 4:56.2
4 B Thiry (Bel) Skoda at 8:28.4
5 F Loix (Bel) Mitsubishi Lancer at 9:36.2
6 T Radstrom (Swe) Ford at 10:04.2
7 G Panizzi (Fra) Peugeot at 10:34.5
8 M Martin (Est) Toyota at 11:38.2
9 P Solberg (Nor) Ford at 13:10.7
10 M Kahle (Ger) Toyota at 15:04.9

Leading final World Championship positions:

Drivers:
1 T Makinen (Fin) Mitsubishi 62pts
2 Burns 55
3 D Auriol (Fra) Toyota 52
4 Kankkunen 44
5 C Sainz (Spa) Toyota 44
6 C McRae (Gbr) Ford 23

Manufacturers:
1 Toyota 109
2 Subaru 105
3 Mitsubishi 83
4 Ford 37
5 SEAT 23
6 Peugeot 11


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