29 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2001
Issue No.562
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 29 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2001 Issue No.562 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Driving force
NEW world rally champion Richard Burns had barely tasted his celebration champagne before a tug-of-war over his services for next year broke out.
The 30-year-old became the first Englishman to win the drivers' crown by finishing third in the Network Q Rally of Great Britain at Cardiff on Sunday.
Burns (right) won the championship for Subaru -- who claim to have an option to retain him despite having already signed four-time champion Tommi Makinen for 2002. Meanwhile, Peugeot insist Burns is joining them next season in a £4.5 million deal.
The driver himself refused to comment about the contractual wrangle but said he expected to be a Peugeot driver next season. "I cannot talk about the contract," he said. "I am just happy to have won. Being England's first world rally champion sounds good," said Burns
"The contract is a private matter," Subaru team owner David Lapworth said. "We are enjoying the moment and are ready for a party. We will be discussing the future with Richard this week."
Burns and his co-driver Robert Reid were concentrating on their achievement. "I feel absolutely fantastic," said the Reading-born driver. Burns, a co-driver and volunteer marshal at the age of 15 in 1986, added: "There was massive pressure before this event and to come though like this is brilliant. It's a bit of a shame not to win my home event but after the retirements on the first leg my sole aim changed from the rally to the bigger championship picture."
"I'm overwhelmed by this experience. It's been a great team performance; so many people have worked so hard for this result and we all deserve it."
"We have been so close for the past two years and we had a terrible first half of the season but the second half has been just fantastic," he said
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