Rally GB: Win or bust for Burns
Richard Burns knows that only a win will do on the Network Q Rally Great Britain if he is to wrest the world rally crown from Marcus Gronholm, who inherited Rally Australia victory upon Tommi Makinen's exclusion
Subaru star Burns just failed to overhaul the Finn's Peugeot for victory on Rally Australia, a battle which was only decided on a nail-biting final stage. Makinen, who won the rally on the treacherously slippery stages but lost it in post-event scrutineering due to a turbo irregularity, handed the win to Gronholm, which leaves Burns playing catch-up and Ford's Colin McRae out of the title running.
"After today's result, the pressure is now on to win the Rally of Great Britain without fail," said Burns. "The championship remains a possibility, although that is now not just be down to me winning alone. It is of course a shame that today didn't unfold any better, but as I have said all event, the result should be decided on the stages rather than other factors having a bearing on the outcome. That said, I was pushing as hard as I could today, so all credit to Marcus."
The disqualification of Makinen has made it even harder for Burns to take the title.
a) He finishes in the top five of Rally GB
b) He fails to score while Burns doesn't win
c) Neither he nor Burns scores
He wins Rally GB with Gronholm sixth or lower
Makinen's disqualification also gave Peugeot the manufacturers' championship title.
Title swings further in Gronholm's favour
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