Cardiff, Nov 05: Richard Burns's world rally title hopes end in hospital. Britain's Richard Burns was released from hospital on Tuesday (November 4) after fainting at the wheel in a motorway drama that left his world rally title hopes in tatters. A Peugeot team spokeswoman said Burns had left his hospital in Cardiff and been told to rest while awaiting the result of medical tests. Burns is likely to head for home, avoiding the media gathering in Cardiff for the season-ending Rally of Britain that will decide the closest title battle in world championship history.

As he left, details of what happened on Sunday afternoon emerged with Ford driver Markko Martin revealed as Burns's safe pair of hands. A Ford team spokesman said the Estonian was travelling in the Peugeot driver's Porsche when the 32-year-old Briton blacked out at the wheel.


"They were in the car going down to Cardiff when it seemed that Richard didn't feel very well and fainted," he said.


"Between the two of them they managed to get the car over without hitting anybody and Markko then phoned for an ambulance."


Burns's personal trainer Steve Benton was also in a car behind and examined the driver on the spot.


Burns spent Sunday night in Newport hospital and was then moved to another in Cardiff on Monday.

Bureau Report