Richard Burns remembered

BBC Radio Five Live motor racing correspondent Maurice Hamilton pays tribute to former World Rally Champion Richard Burns.

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Richard Burns' career in photos Archive: Burns wins title Archive: Title pictures Archive: Burns' road to glory

I first met Richard when he became the British Championship's youngest winner in 1993.

You always earmark anyone who wins the British Championship, you have a look at him and see how he is doing.

Unfortunately drivers who win the British Championship rarely make it to the World Rally Championship because you either need money or talent.

But Richard made that step and was quick so you thought "that guy is worth watching" because so few get that far so clearly there was something about him.

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Richard was the complete counterpoint to Colin McRae.

That is meant as no disrespect to Colin, they were just two different guys.

Colin is the extrovert whereas Richard thought everything through.

He was a quiet bloke and hugely talented because you don't win 10 world championship rallies or become world champion which he did in 2001 if you are no good.

He was a class act and a very nice guy to know.

He just got on with the job, he applied a lot of thought to every aspect of his driving.

He was a modest man and will be remembered very fondly Maurice Hamilton

Most of his success was with Subaru and he got on well with them, he was at home there, because he liked to be in the middle of everything.

Winning the championship with them in 2001, the first Englishman to do so, was a tough fight.

We have only had Colin winning the world title so as Brits we don't have that sort of success so to actually come through and be runner-up twice and then win it is a mark of his talent.

Richard Burns (R) and co-driver Robert Reid were a superb team

Richard's partnership with co-driver Robert Reid was very special.

Because Richard was so particular about how things should be done, Robert was one of the few people who understood what he needed.

They worked together for the first time in 1991 and the partnership was unbroken.

Although he won't be regarded as one of the true greats, he certainly is a great because of the things that he achieved.

If the car was competitive Richard was definitely in with a shout of winning it again.

After his disappointing time with Peugeot he was going back to his roots and he would have been pushing.

He was a modest man and will be remembered very fondly, he was an absolute natural.