Nov 07: Colin McRae could be a target to replace Richard Burns at Subaru if the Englishman is ruled out of next year's World Rally Championship. Burns, the 2001 world champion, is not driving in the Rally of Great Britain after he blacked out while driving on a motorway earlier this week.

He is due to join Subaru in a two-year deal next season and the team said it had not yet considered replacing him.

"Colin would not be a bad substitute but we are not thinking about that yet," said Subaru chief David Lapworth.

"It is too soon to be speculating on that.


"We are concerned (for Richard) on a personal level because he is a friend and we have known him for a long time.

"We can only listen to what our doctors say and our doctors say there are so many possibilities, so many explanations, we cannot even speculate on it."

McRae played down talk of replacing Burns in 2004, insisting he only hopes his old rival makes a speedy recovery.

"It's something that could happen," said the Scot of a possible Subaru approach.

"But I have made a decision to pull out of the championship next year.

"I hope it is nothing serious. I really feel sad for Richard and not because it has hurt his championship, that does not matter now.

"The most important thing is he gets back in the car next year.

"He is a very quick driver and there are more championships in him yet."

Bureau Report