Brain tumour threatens Burns’ career

RICHARD BURNS’ rally career was last night in jeopardy after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

The former world champion will undergo a course of radiotherapy but has been ordered to miss next season.

Burns is determined to make a full recovery but there are inevitable question marks over whether he will be allowed back into a rally car.

The tumour known as an Astrocytoma was discovered when Burns underwent scans after collapsing at the wheel of his Porsche earlier this month.

"The doctors have advised that I am unable to get back in a rally car for the 2004 Championship and I have to accept that," said the 32-year-old.

"I'm obviously extremely disappointed but I am feeling very positive and I am determined to focus all of my efforts on getting back to full fitness as soon as I can."

Burns blacked out on the M4 motorway while travelling to Cardiff to begin preparations for the Wales Rally GB where he had an outside chance of regaining the title.

The Reading-born driver was saved from a potentially horrific accident when rally rival Markko Martin of Estonia grabbed the wheel and steered the car to safety on the hard shoulder.

Burns was taken to hospital and ordered to miss the season ending rally before undergoing further tests in London last week.

Burns was due to rejoin Subaru, the team with whom he became the first Englishman to win the world title in 2001, next season in a reputed £5million deal.

"We are very concerned at this news about Richard," admitted Subaru team chief David Lapworth.

Subaru now have to find a replacement for Burns as partner to Norway's Petter Solberg, who grabbed the drivers' crown with victory in Wales.

The Banbury-based outfit could turn to Colin McRae, who won his world title with Subaru in 1995 but is without a drive next year after losing out at Citroen.

"We have not yet had much time to consider all the alternative driver options for next year, but we hope to make an announcement soon," said Lapworth.

In the meantime, Williams driver Juan Pablo Montoya has described his link-up with McLaren for the 2005 Formula One season as an amazing challenge.

"I am thrilled to be joining Team McLaren Mercedes," said the Colombian driver who finished third in this season's championship.

"The team is consistently a strong world championship contender and has a fantastic heritage."

Last month McLaren boss Ron Dennis denied reports he was prepared to pay a $25m indemnity to Williams-BMW counterpart Frank Williams to secure the Colombian's services before his contract expired.

Montoya is committed to Williams until the end of 2004.

McLaren will confirm the full 2005 driver line-up at a later date but the team's 2004 challenge will be led by David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen, but Coulthard is expected to lose out for 2005.

"We want to win races and world championships, and in order to do so we have to plan for the future whilst applying every effort in the short term," said Dennis.

"The opportunity to sign a talent like Juan Pablo was too good to miss, and there is already a considerable amount of anticipation within our team about 2005.

"Juan Pablo has achieved a considerable amount of success in his career and we are certain he will add to this with Team McLaren Mercedes. We are certainly looking forward to seeing what he can do in one of our cars and I believe it's a prospect that can't fail to excite F1 fans.

"However until that happens we will be focusing all efforts on our 2004 challenge."