Britain’s World Rally Championship contender Richards Burns is out of this weekend’s season finale in Wales after being hospitalised on the eve of the event.
Britain’s World Rally Championship contender Richards Burns is out of this weekend’s season finale in Wales after being hospitalised on the eve of the event.
Burns was not allowed to compete in the Wales Rally GB after fainting while travelling from London to Cardiff. The Peugeot driver, who spent Sunday night in a South Wales hospital, was forced to miss the beginning of the recce and will not be allowed to enter due to safety reasons.
His co-driver Robert Reid said: “The doctors have basically told Richard not to do the rally. He’s having more tests done today, but he’s in good form considering the circumstances. Obviously, he’s hugely disappointed about the whole thing. I thought this year would have a sting in the tail, but I wasn’t quite prepared for this.”
Both Burns and Reid fell ill on the final day of Rally Catalunya last month, but it is not known whether this is related to Richard’s hospitalisation as doctors have yet to give an update on the diagnosis and its seriousness.
In a team statement, the Peugeot Sport Team wished Burns a prompt recovery and announced that, on the basis of certain WRC regulations, the crew of Freddy Loix and Sven Smeets will replace Burns and Reid.
Loix has already signed to drive for the French team next season and was in Wales to participate in the recce.
Burns was five points behind joint championship leaders Sebastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz of Citroën. Only Subaru’s Petter Solberg, who lies four points behind the leaders and who will be Burns’ team-mate next year, will be able to bump the Citroëns off their top spot.