Remembering Richard Burns / Subaru Impreza WRC 2001

Subaru Saturday – Richard Burns stunning Subaru Impreza WRC 2001 in which he became the 2001 World Rally Champion seen here @fosgoodwood 2018. The colour scheme of Sonic Blue Mica and dayglo yellow 555 tobacco sponsorship complemented by the gold BBS alloys is one of the most iconic motorsport liveries of all time.

Richard and his long term co-driver, Robert Reid, who had been reading the notes for him since 1991, had finished in runner up spot in the WRC in 1999 and 2000, finally lifting the trophy in 2001. He scored 2 points more than runner up, Colin McRae.

It was a very dramatic last round decider on the Rally of Great Britain – going in to the event, four drivers had the potential to become Champion – Richard, Colin McRae, Tommi Mäkinen and Carlos Sainz. However, Richard’s title rivals were all sidelined with problems by the end of Saturday’s second leg, and a third place finish behind Peugeot duo Marcus Gronholm and Harri Rovanpera was enough to lift the title. That victory still lives on, very vivid in the memories of rally fans.

For Richard, rather than basking in the glory of his success as Britain’s first rally World Champion and the only Englishman, he was in the court room with his barrister trying to extricate himself from his Subaru contract so that he could sign for Peugeot – they had been Manufacturers Champions in 2000 and 2001. He won his case, but despite 4 second places in 2002, the Peugeot relationship did not deliver what was hoped for, and a 5th place finish for the season was a big disappointment. His team mate Marcus Gronholm won the Championship in a Peugeot 206 WRC.

On the 25th November 2005, Richard sadly lost a battle greater than any rally stage when he succumbed to a brain tumour – it was exactly 4 years to the day that he lifted the World Rally Championship. Life can be so cruel.

I only met Richard once – at the 1999 Goodwood Festival of Speed. In the paddock area Richard was there with his Subaru Impreza WRC 99 and Colin McRae with his Ford Focus RS WRC. Obviously both drivers were attracting a lot of attention from autograph hunters – Richard made sure that everyone got everything signed....and he was not going to leave anyone feeling disappointed, happily chatting away. Colin on the other hand, was not going to sign anything....except for a member of the local constabulary on crowd control duties. I left with the lasting impression of what a warm, unassuming person Richard was and sadly missed.

To stir the memories, watch this video of Richard and Colin’s runs at Goodwood in 1999

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_05biZO2MA

In 2006, the young driver's award on the Wales Rally GB was renamed the “Richard Burns Trophy” in his honor – a very fitting tribute and ensures that Richard’s name lives on.

Robert Reid still currently owns the car which is demonstrated at various events like Goodwood.

In June 2021, Richard Burns' 2000 Rally GB winning Subaru Impreza S6 WRC car was sold at auction for a record £610,000. It is considered to be one of the most original WRC cars in existence - it came complete with Richard and Robert Reid's headsets.

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