Burns aims to win finale and challenge Gronholm next year

A long, if slender, shadow darkens the path of the two British drivers who once deemed it their birthright and obligation to illuminate their home event in the World Rally Championship.

Colin McRae and Richard Burns again carry the hopes of the nation as they embark on the Network Q rally of Great Britain in Cardiff this evening. However, the customary fervour and heightened sense of occasion have been diluted this time. Even the ritual psychological cross-fire between McRae and Burns has been dispensed with in the build-up to the season's finale.

The Scotsman and the Englishman, who contested the championship itself last year, are reduced to squabbling over the dubious prize of runner-up placing this weekend. The title has already been deposited by Marcus Gronholm, the Finn now threatening to confirm his domination of the sport.

McRae, champion in 1995 and three times a winner of the British rally, gives himself little realistic chance of ending his four-year association with Ford from the top of the podium. The Focus is suited to rough gravel stages but the Peugeot has reigned supreme in all conditions, and especially in the hands of the lanky Gronholm.

Burns, also a winner three times on home ground, can claim no such performance disadvantage. He drives another Peugeot, having joined the French team after taking the championship with Subaru last year.

He endured a difficult learning period, powerless to keep pace with the imperious Gronholm. But he has shown signs that he is coming to terms with the 206 and his team-mate, and has genuine conviction that he can register his first success of the season on Sunday afternoon.

That would reassert Burns' position on the domestic landscape and enhance his prospects of challenging Gronholm for the championship next year. Burns said: "Second place in the championship means nothing to me. It's winning the rally that matters this week and I do believe I can win it.

"Colin's motivation will be high to bow out of Ford with a good result but on recent pace you have to say he is less of a threat than Marcus. I think it will be between me and Marcus.

"Time will tell if Marcus is the best ever. He is consistent, makes few mistakes and, you have to say, has had his luck.

"He is incredibly strong but he is beatable and we've had the measure of him on some rallies, leading in Finland and New Zealand. Marcus has the confidence that he knows when he drives well he will win. I don't have that foundation of confidence yet, but I will get there.

"I have had a lot of bad luck and it's been very frustrating for me and Colin because we've both helped Marcus with our mistakes. But there will be a time when that cycle of luck comes to an end for him."

Gronholm could be forgiven for having exhausted his motivation this year, but Burns has come to know enough of the new champion to dispel any fanciful thoughts. The pair have, at best, a cool relationship and Gronholm, far from wishing to help his team-mate to second place in the championship, aka Michael Schumacher, is intent on achieving a record equalling sixth victory of the season.

Burns said: "I don't known him too well. It isn't a difficult relationship but it isn't a smooth one. That's only because we both desperately want to win, it's nothing personal. The good thing about Peugeot is that they don't see it like Ferrari in Formula One. There are no team orders and no favourites. I joined Peugeot because they have the best car and I know I am capable of winning, otherwise they wouldn't have signed me.

"I have had to be patient, which is what Colin will have to be when he goes to Citroën. It's not critical for me to get a win here but if I do it will give me the momentum going into next year and that could be an important factor."

McRae's decision to follow in Burns's tyre tracks to France comes at the end of another unfulfilled campaign, although his two wins from it give him a total of 25, more than any other driver. He has been frustrated by Ford's inability to match Peugeot, especially on tarmac, and split with his co-driver Nicky Grist after failing to patch up their differences. McRae had recalled Derek Ringer, the Scot who navigated his course to the championship. Ford, for their part, have not always been satisfied with McRae's contribution. His pace, courage and public appeal come at a price on top of the £5m a year salary. There are undoubtedly occasions when his motivation can be called into question. But it is McRae's cavalier style that draws the masses to his cause. That much, at least, Burns acknowledges he cannot compete with. Burns said: "The way Colin drives, it's easy to be a fan of his. We're different and we do things differently. He's uninhibited. He wins rallies but he also crashes. That's the sort of character he is."