Burns attacks use of 'expert' drivers

The Subaru ace has lashed out at the use of drivers like Gilles Panizzi - who took two consecutive victories in Corsica and Sanremo for Peugeot - robbing Burns of vital points in the process.

"It's kind of self-destructive for the championship to have someone like Panizzi coming in, winning two rallies, helping his team-mate, helping his team, and then he gets to Australia and you can take a minute off him in 30km," said Burns.

"If they want to run Panizzi, then he's got to do the full championship. You don't get people in other sports nipping in then buggering off. Does he deserve to be in the championship just because he excels in three rallies?"

The Englishman says he would like to see a system where manufacturers are forced to nominate drivers at the start of the year and stick with them.

"If I only had four rallies a year, I'd make sure I won them," he added. "I'd have nothing else to do."

Panizzi's win in Corsica robbed Burns of a championship point, although his victory in Sanremo cost Peugeot team-mate Marcus Gronholm a point too.

Peugeot team boss Jean-Pierre Nicolas disagrees with Burns, however, and said: "It is interesting to run a variety of drivers."