Reid: Burns changed the sport

Reid, who co-drove with Burns for 103 rallies including his world title winning season in 2001, reckons that Burns' attitude towards working with the engineers and technical crew meant that everyone has needed to raise their game.

Burns passed away after a long battle with a brain disease late last year.

"I started 103 WRC events with Richard, and we won 10 and the championship," Reid said. "I have to say he was a professional driver and for me he changed the sport. He was one of the first to work with engineers well and work straight. Those two things combined led to him being extremely competitive.

"Sebastien Loeb and his generation behind have taken that to the extreme now."

Reid was speaking on the central stage of the Autosport International Show, talking about two of the members of the MSA British Rally Elite. The aim of the scheme is to propel young British talent to World Rally Championship level.

Reid added: "It was fantastic to be able to battle in WRC rallies and championships and twice Great British drivers being in contention either Richard or Colin McRae going into the final round of the champion being able to win the championship. Unfortunately now that is not the case.

"We need to take an approach to find where the next people are coming from, and I helped organise the next MSA British Rally Elite - a training scheme to try and bring forward the guys with potential.

"It is also about preparation on many levels. If you are doing half a dozen one-day events within the UK, it is not as easy to get 16, three-day events is different."