Richard Burns

[RandyLandy]

WHOA, just read the news item that a friend sent me was shocked to see that one of the greatest sportsman to come from this great land had passed on.

LONDON (Reuters) - Richard Burns, the only Englishman to win the world rally championship, has died of a brain tumour at the age of 34, his family said on Saturday.

Burns died in London's Wellington hospital on Friday evening with family and close friends at his bedside. He had been in a coma for some days.

By a sad coincidence, his death came on the fourth anniversary of his championship win with Subaru in 2001.

The Briton was diagnosed with the astrocytoma, a form of brain tumour, after blacking out at the wheel on his way to the British Rally in Wales in 2003 where he could have won a second championship with Peugeot.

He had been due to return to Subaru in 2004 but the illness forced him to withdraw from that season.

"You don't become a world champion without being a great, great driver," world rally supremo David Richards, whose Prodrive company also runs the Subaru team, told Reuters.

"He will stand out amongst them as one of the icons of the sport.

"We were very confident (in 2003) of him coming back to us and winning another title."

The only other Briton to have won the championship was Scottish driver Colin McRae, also with Subaru, in 1995. The two drivers were great rivals, contrasting personalities who frequently clashed but also respected one another.

Burns, overall runner-up in 1999 and 2000 and winner of 10 rounds of the world rally championship, had a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy last year and in April this year underwent brain surgery.
 

"From the outset, Richard knew that the odds were heavily against him and yet he fought his illness with bravery and good humour," said a statement issued on his family's behalf.

"Having undergone both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, he was able to leave hospital in summer 2004. For a while his health showed signs of improvement but then after six months it once again began to decline.

"Determined not to give up, he opted for surgery earlier this year. This alleviated some of the symptoms of his illness and enabled him to remain active," the statement added.

"At Castle Combe in August he attended a parade of the rally cars that he drove throughout his career and was touched by the warmth of the reception he received.

"However there was to be no miracle and in recent days he lapsed into a coma."

Richards said he had received emails from all over the world, including several from Kenya where Burns won his first world championship rally with Mitsubishi in 1998, paying tribute to the driver.

"It's easy to think of him just as an English star but remember that he won events all around the world and he had an extraordinary following," he said.

"He stood out, tall, looked slightly different with his gingery hair from the rest of the crowd and I suppose was very recognisable.

"He was the first English world champion and he did it in great style as well, he was very professional in the way he went about it," Richards added.

"He and Colin were great pals but nonetheless two completely opposite ends of the spectrum with Colin's flamboyance and Richard's sheer determination and professionalism. He (Burns) had a very methodical, determined style."

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

Not wishing to open an already closed can of worms - but it would have been nice to see Richards death get HALF the publicity that that of Best got

[RandyLandy]

It annoys me because Richard Burns fought and fought and fought to live a so called footballer got a liver transplant went out on the booze again gave that liver a battering and generally tried to kill himself slowly but he's got all the publicity in the world it's been announced everywhere there is minute silences going on all over the place for him. now where is richard's?

[muddyweb]

Now look...  we've already had this conversation.

People have died... that is sad for their families, and for their fans.

Can we PLEASE stop with the 'x is more deserving than y' comments.


What the hell is wrong with you all ????

[RandyLandy]

Sorry tim, it is a general opinion of quite a few people i know it is a shame George Best passed on but my thought is that Richard Burns tried to battle it out best didn't no offence intended to anyone but RB was someone i followed very closely as he truly was a champion

[Thrasher]

Hi,

It's all down to the Media. I personally think there should only be a minutes silence for ONE single event in our calendar. However, that is my opinion.

Football sells - it's a fact. I understand how you feel. When "lesser" known musicians die, they are never pushed as well as the "pop" ones ... it's the same thing.

Motorsport is not as big as football in the UK. Sadly most people probably have no idea who Richard Burns was  

So I would respectfully ask us not to turn this is into a Best vs Everyone esle thread.

[dave_2A_2.25Turbo]

Which is just what I meant - as something of a 'personal hero' of mine, I was disappointed by the relative lack of coverage.

[Bishops Finger]

For quite a few of us a pilgrimage to the forests of wales for the RAC was a major event

So many memories n bacon butties etc  nuff said :D

[TimM]

Not wishing to open an already closed can of worms - but it would have been nice to see Richards death get HALF the publicity that that of Best got

I've only just realised now I've read this thread......

I haven't seen a thing about it in the press - I have been out greenlaning and working all weekend - but to hear nothing!  :shock:

I saw this thread, but didn't get round to reading it until now.

This is a great loss to his his family, to england, and to motorsport.

He will be sadly missed  

My deepest sympathy goes to his family and friends.

[clips]

Just to echo tims thoughts. wasn't aware of the nature of this thread until i saw a small article in the back pages of the paper. very shocked.
 a great loss.

[littlepow]

I remember reading how he passed out during a rally stage, following his world title, and only the quick thinking and skills of his co driver saved them both.

He was a great driver, who's life was cut short through illness.

He is a great loss to us all, my deepest sympathy go to his family.

[muddyjames]

My Dad used to work with richard Burns' dad at the AA. I met his dad once and he was a nice guy. I never got to meet Richard though :(

[Xtremeteam]

I remember reading how he passed out during a rally stage, following his world title, and only the quick thinking and skills of his co driver saved them both.

it was actually on the road to the rally GB he passed out at the wheel of his porche with marko martin (pug driver) in the pas seat & it was himslef that get them safely to a halt  

[sparkplug]

that is a big shame. i didnt even no that he was sick, i just thought he had enough of rallying.
will be missed

[Tom Mc]

Gutted!

For me David Richards summed it up perfectly ... "You don't become a world champion without being a great, great driver".

'nuf said.