Greece, June 20: Former champion Richard Burns will need to put aside speculation about his future when he bids to hold onto his lead in the world rally championship in Greece. Burns' deal with Peugeot ends this year and the Englishman has been linked with a return to his old Subaru team. Despite leading team-mate and defending champion Marcus Gronholm by two points in the standings, Burns is still looking for his first win for the French manufacturer. "I know there's been a lot of talk in the media as to next season and where everyone's going to end up," said Burns on his personal website. "As things stand I don't have a contract for next year and obviously it's something that's going to require me to have a think about.

"But my focus right here and now is on the world championship and stretching my advantage at the top of the driver standings."

Colin McRae, also looking for a first victory of the season, is determined to revive his title hopes when the drivers set out from the Acropolis on Thursday.

The Scot has won in Greece - the toughest event on the European calendar because of the roughness of the roads - for the past three years and five times in his last seven outings.

McRae left Ford over the winter and is now at Citroen, who are in their first full season on the world championship trail.

He is 15 points behind Burns in the championship after his Citroen Xsara was destroyed by fire in the last round in Argentina.

But McRae is looking forward to the heat of Greece, despite having to cope with in-car temperatures of 55C.

"It's an event I like and it's fun to do," said McRae. "You have to gauge the ideal pace and that's an interesting exercise.

"These past three years I think I've found the knack, but I've also had a little luck.

"I think it should be a good rally for us. The Xsara has shown that it is quick on all types of surface, and that it's both strong and reliable." The man to beat, as ever, will be Gronholm - winner of the last two rallies.

"Gronholm is proving a problem to all his rivals," said Citroen team boss Guy Frequelin. "He is currently a shade above everybody else."

McRae's team-mate Carlos Sainz will also be a contender in a rally he has won three times, while Ford hope Estonian Markko Martin can provide their fourth consecutive Acropolis win.

Ford will also be backing 18-year-old Finn Jari-Matti Latvala, who becomes the youngest driver of an official works-entered car in the world championship.

"It's a big challenge for me and I haven't been able to prepare as fully as I would like because I've been busy at school," said Latvala.

Bureau Report