Burns will win, say experts

AUTOSPORT garnered the opinions of past and present rally drivers, pundits, fans and the WRC's movers and shakers on who will come out tops come Sunday evening, and the majority believe Burns - the man who has won the last three Rally GBs - seems to have the edge over McRae in Wales.

"I think it will be Burns," said defending champion - and Burns' team mate at Peugeot for 2002 - Marcus Gronholm. "He's been the best driver in the Welsh forests for a while now."

Rally legend Hannu Mikkola agrees with his countryman Gronholm. "My money would be on Burns," he said. "He has been better than McRae in Britain recently and I think Colin tries a bit too hard under pressure."

Among those who favoured McRae to take the title is editor of AUTOSPORT's sister magazine RallyXS Andrew Golby and British Touring Car Champion Jason Plato.

"It will be McRae," said Golby. "He's pumped up about this in the right sort of way." Plato added: "Colin is probably faster, so he might just do it this year."

Bookmakers aren't brave enough to pick a favourite. According to the latest odds, McRae and Burns are tied at 2-1.