Colin McRae says that fellow Brit Richard Burns would become too big-headed if he won the World Championship title. The duo's rivalry will come to a head at next week's Network Q Rally of Great Britain when they battle it out for the drivers' crown. Britain's only world champion McRae admits that he would prefer Finland's Tommi Makinen to win the title rather than Burns.
"I certainly don't want Burnsie to win!" said the 33-year-old Scot, who goes into the final event one point ahead of Makinen with English rival Burns just one point further adrift. "If he does he won't be able to fit his head through a normal sized door! I would rather see Tommi win. I'm the only British world champion and I want to keep it that way. Having said that, whoever wins it will deserve it," he added.
The winner of the four-day rally in the forests of South Wales on Sunday week will be crowned champion. The two British drivers are favourites over Mitsubishi's four-time champion Makinen, who has been struggling with form and fitness.
McRae was bitterly disappointed at losing the chance to wrap up the title at the last event in Australia. He was penalised for turning up "late" for the meeting when drivers decided their running order for the next day. "I am over that now - it's gone," he said. "But it would have been great to win the championship in Australia. We could have relaxed and had a bit of fun in Britain. But I'm looking forward to the challenge and I think it's going to be a great finish to the year. If we win we win the world title, so it's quite straightforward. Sometimes that's the best way to start an event," he said.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
