Burns fined over disrepute charges

The penalty comes after the Subaru star refused to officially acknowledge a change to the event's regulations which banned the changing of tyres immediately before stage starts.

The stewards brought in the regulation change for the third and final leg of the event in an attempt to stop competitors changing tyres in order to deliberately improve their road position without incurring road penalties.

With the rough Cypriot stages covered by a thick layer of loose stones and dust, the early runners act as 'road-sweepers' for the later cars. As a result, most drivers agree that a position lower down the top five is the most desirable starting spot.

Under the championship regulations, a member of each competing crew is obliged to sign a document acknowledging that they have read and agreed to any regulation changes made during an event. However, Burns and his co-driver Robert Reid both refused to sign the document.

It is thought that after changing a puncture prior to the start of the final leg of last year's Rally Australia, which moved them from first to second on the road, the duo believed the measure was aimed specifically at them.

Burns and Reid were called in front of the stewards after the finish of the rally to explain their actions. The pair apologised and Burns is believed to have argued that the pressure situation he was in at the time, prior to the day's first stage, was the cause of the non-signing.

Reid was not fined.