Richard Burns
Richard Burns
© WRC
01
Key Facts & Achievements
Name
Richard Burns
Nationality
English
Date of Birth
17.01.1971
WRC Titles
1 (2001)
WRC Wins
10
WRC Podiums
34
WRC Starts
104
WRC Stage Wins
275
Last WRC Event
Rally Catalunya 2003
02
Career Summary
Richard Burns became England’s first and only World Rally Champion in 2001, etching his name into the history books as one of Britain’s greatest motorsport talents. Known for his smooth, precise driving style and analytical approach, Burns combined speed with strategy in a way few others could match.
Born in Reading in 1971, Burns began rallying after winning the Peugeot Challenge in 1990. The following year, he was joined by co-driver Robert Reid - a partnership that would last for the entirety of his professional career. In 1993, he signed with Subaru for the British Rally Championship and promptly delivered, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the title.
After honing his skills on the world stage with Mitsubishi - where he played a crucial role in securing the 1998 manufacturers’ championship - Burns returned to Subaru in 1999. His consistent performances saw him finish runner-up in both 1999 and 2000, narrowly missing out on the drivers’ crown.
Everything came together in 2001. In one of the most fiercely contested seasons in WRC history, Burns held off challenges from Colin McRae, Tommi Mäkinen and reigning champion Marcus Grönholm to seal the title at Rally GB. Victory on home soil crowned a measured and mature campaign, making Burns the first Englishman to win the World Rally Championship.
In 2002, he moved to Peugeot, where he helped the team secure the manufacturers’ championship while finishing fifth in the drivers’ standings. However, in late 2003, Burns was diagnosed with a brain tumour just days before Rally GB - forcing him to withdraw from competition and ultimately retire from the sport.
He passed away on 25 November 2005, aged just 34 - exactly four years to the day after winning his world title.
