RE: Richard Burns: Time For Tea?
Tuesday 25th November 2014
November 25 is a hugely significant date in the life of Richard Burns as it marks both the date of his World Rally Championship (in 2001) and his tragically early death (in 2005). During his six season in the WRC he achieved 10 victories and consistently scored highly.
Richard Burns: Time For Tea?
A video of Richard in his prime to mark the anniversary of his passing
Burns is of course best known for driving a Subaru Impreza in the WRC, his status with the manufacturer shown with the RB5 and RB320 special editions. It therefore seemed appropriate to feature an Impreza video this afternoon. This onboard is from Corsica in 1999; a seventh place finish overall wasn't superb (he took second in the overall championship) but losing out to tarmac specialists such as Philippe Bugalski and Didier Auriol is hardly a poor result. You'll see Burns is still really fast and yet unerringly smooth at the same time.
Enjoy the vid. RIP Richard.
[Image: LAT]
Discussion
While I know the Mitsi EVO and Subaru WRX was his most iconic times.
I think the scene that sticks with me when I think of Richard Burns was his broken 206 in the dust and dirt of the 2002 Safari rally.
Trying to dig it out in the heat and no one was allowed to help and you knew he was f''ked.. Video Here
Even I had dust in my eyes, I mean they were just really sweaty...
I think the scene that sticks with me when I think of Richard Burns was his broken 206 in the dust and dirt of the 2002 Safari rally.
Trying to dig it out in the heat and no one was allowed to help and you knew he was f''ked.. Video Here
Even I had dust in my eyes, I mean they were just really sweaty...
Still very upsetting that we've lost Richard, Colin and so many other great rally drivers - seemingly way, way before their time.
It's such a cruel irony really. I grew up in the 1970's when rallying was pretty much an ultra safe sport for drivers, co-drivers and spectators alike whereas Formula 1 was the 'death race arena' with top drivers such as Francois Cevert, Ronnie Petersen and many others were being killed year on year faster than safety campaigners such as Jackie Stewart could get things changed for the better.
Until Attilio Bettega died on the Tour of Corsica in 1985 in a Lancia Rally 037 and then Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto two years later in a Delta S4 (also in Corsica), I think the worst to happen to a rally driver was Ari Vatanen's 1985 Argentinian crash in the 205 T16 from which, although very badly injured, he mercifully survived.
Prior to that I seem to remember the rare kind of injury typical in rallying was Hannu Mikkola breaking a finger in a whirling steering wheel after going off on a stage of the 1974 Lombard RAC Rally. Roger Clark never suffered an injury at all throughout his entire rallying career according to his autobiography.
Yet so many top rally drivers have died prematurely away from the sport they loved and excelled at. Clark died from a stroke aged 58, Tony Pond from pancreatic cancer aged 56, Pentti Airikkala (that most British of Finns) aged 64. Add to those legends heroes such as Colin McRae, of course, as well as Burnsie and we have in this country a terrible legacy of British rally stars who are no longer with us. It's utterly tragic.
The worst is that Richard and Colin probably still had several years left in their rallying careers whereas, I suppose, the earlier drivers had at least had theirs before they passed away. Even so...
Might I also mention former British rally champion Mark Lovell and his co-driver Roger Freeman as well as Michael 'Beef' Park - all killed competing in the sport they loved.
God, what a litany, eh?
It's such a cruel irony really. I grew up in the 1970's when rallying was pretty much an ultra safe sport for drivers, co-drivers and spectators alike whereas Formula 1 was the 'death race arena' with top drivers such as Francois Cevert, Ronnie Petersen and many others were being killed year on year faster than safety campaigners such as Jackie Stewart could get things changed for the better.
Until Attilio Bettega died on the Tour of Corsica in 1985 in a Lancia Rally 037 and then Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto two years later in a Delta S4 (also in Corsica), I think the worst to happen to a rally driver was Ari Vatanen's 1985 Argentinian crash in the 205 T16 from which, although very badly injured, he mercifully survived.
Prior to that I seem to remember the rare kind of injury typical in rallying was Hannu Mikkola breaking a finger in a whirling steering wheel after going off on a stage of the 1974 Lombard RAC Rally. Roger Clark never suffered an injury at all throughout his entire rallying career according to his autobiography.
Yet so many top rally drivers have died prematurely away from the sport they loved and excelled at. Clark died from a stroke aged 58, Tony Pond from pancreatic cancer aged 56, Pentti Airikkala (that most British of Finns) aged 64. Add to those legends heroes such as Colin McRae, of course, as well as Burnsie and we have in this country a terrible legacy of British rally stars who are no longer with us. It's utterly tragic.
The worst is that Richard and Colin probably still had several years left in their rallying careers whereas, I suppose, the earlier drivers had at least had theirs before they passed away. Even so...
Might I also mention former British rally champion Mark Lovell and his co-driver Roger Freeman as well as Michael 'Beef' Park - all killed competing in the sport they loved.
God, what a litany, eh?
Absolute legend and one of the nicest people you can imagine.
to a young impressionable lad at a service stop many years ago (at the Crewe and Harpur in Derbyshire), coming over and talking to me that day made him a hero
I still remember the heat haze coming off the utterly stunning Impreza WRC like it was yesterday
to a young impressionable lad at a service stop many years ago (at the Crewe and Harpur in Derbyshire), coming over and talking to me that day made him a hero
I still remember the heat haze coming off the utterly stunning Impreza WRC like it was yesterday
This has to be one of the most moving videos on RB, still cannot believe its 9 years ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqGUD6Wz14w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqGUD6Wz14w
firebird350 said:
Still very upsetting that we've lost Richard, Colin and so many other great rally drivers - seemingly way, way before their time.
It's such a cruel irony really. I grew up in the 1970's when rallying was pretty much an ultra safe sport for drivers, co-drivers and spectators alike whereas Formula 1 was the 'death race arena' with top drivers such as Francois Cevert, Ronnie Petersen and many others were being killed year on year faster than safety campaigners such as Jackie Stewart could get things changed for the better.
Until Attilio Bettega died on the Tour of Corsica in 1985 in a Lancia Rally 037 and then Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto two years later in a Delta S4 (also in Corsica), I think the worst to happen to a rally driver was Ari Vatanen's 1985 Argentinian crash in the 205 T16 from which, although very badly injured, he mercifully survived.
Prior to that I seem to remember the rare kind of injury typical in rallying was Hannu Mikkola breaking a finger in a whirling steering wheel after going off on a stage of the 1974 Lombard RAC Rally. Roger Clark never suffered an injury at all throughout his entire rallying career according to his autobiography.
Yet so many top rally drivers have died prematurely away from the sport they loved and excelled at. Clark died from a stroke aged 58, Tony Pond from pancreatic cancer aged 56, Pentti Airikkala (that most British of Finns) aged 64. Add to those legends heroes such as Colin McRae, of course, as well as Burnsie and we have in this country a terrible legacy of British rally stars who are no longer with us. It's utterly tragic.
The worst is that Richard and Colin probably still had several years left in their rallying careers whereas, I suppose, the earlier drivers had at least had theirs before they passed away. Even so...
Might I also mention former British rally champion Mark Lovell and his co-driver Roger Freeman as well as Michael 'Beef' Park - all killed competing in the sport they loved.
God, what a litany, eh?
An eloquent response; I think the above says it all, and for once, I feel no need to add anything else.It's such a cruel irony really. I grew up in the 1970's when rallying was pretty much an ultra safe sport for drivers, co-drivers and spectators alike whereas Formula 1 was the 'death race arena' with top drivers such as Francois Cevert, Ronnie Petersen and many others were being killed year on year faster than safety campaigners such as Jackie Stewart could get things changed for the better.
Until Attilio Bettega died on the Tour of Corsica in 1985 in a Lancia Rally 037 and then Henri Toivonen and Sergio Cresto two years later in a Delta S4 (also in Corsica), I think the worst to happen to a rally driver was Ari Vatanen's 1985 Argentinian crash in the 205 T16 from which, although very badly injured, he mercifully survived.
Prior to that I seem to remember the rare kind of injury typical in rallying was Hannu Mikkola breaking a finger in a whirling steering wheel after going off on a stage of the 1974 Lombard RAC Rally. Roger Clark never suffered an injury at all throughout his entire rallying career according to his autobiography.
Yet so many top rally drivers have died prematurely away from the sport they loved and excelled at. Clark died from a stroke aged 58, Tony Pond from pancreatic cancer aged 56, Pentti Airikkala (that most British of Finns) aged 64. Add to those legends heroes such as Colin McRae, of course, as well as Burnsie and we have in this country a terrible legacy of British rally stars who are no longer with us. It's utterly tragic.
The worst is that Richard and Colin probably still had several years left in their rallying careers whereas, I suppose, the earlier drivers had at least had theirs before they passed away. Even so...
Might I also mention former British rally champion Mark Lovell and his co-driver Roger Freeman as well as Michael 'Beef' Park - all killed competing in the sport they loved.
God, what a litany, eh?
I always enjoy watching this clip: Juha Kankkunen & Richard Burns testing Subaru Impreza WRC - with pure engine sounds
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