News

Northumberland-based rally fan Dave Taylor, who is suffering from brain cancer, similar to the condition that claimed the life of Richard Burns in November 2005, has been given permission from his doctor to travel to the Remembering Richard event at Prodrive in Banbury on Saturday.

Taylor owns a Peugeot 206 road car, which has an identical livery to the World Rally Car version Burns drove on the 2003 Monte Carlo Rally. He had been hoping to take the car to RAF Marham for the Richard Burns Memorial Rally in August, but his doctor told him he was unable to travel due to his brain tumour.

However, he was told last weekend that he would be fit enough to make the long journey south for Saturday’s gathering of Richard’s fans at Prodrive’s Oxfordshire HQ. He has also set his sights on taking the car to Rally GB in November.

Taylor said: “Richard was one of my favourite rally drivers of all time. The battles between himself and Colin [McRae] were just fantastic through the years. It was a pleasure and a privilege for me to be a spectator in Margam Park when he drove like his grandma (his words) to lift the WRC crown in 2001. It was fantastic for him and for us to have our own world champion.

“I wanted to go to the Richard Burns Memorial Rally, but was unable to attend due to my tumour, which was diagnosed on July 3 this year. I’m so pleased to be able to make the Remembering Richard day at Prodrive on Saturday and I’m determined to take the car to Cardiff for Rally GB. I’m sure other fans would love to see the car – and I would dearly love the chance to get a picture of Robert [Reid, Richard’s co-driver] or Alex [Richard’s father] alongside the car.”

The Remembering Richard event runs from 1000hrs-1500hrs on Saturday. Admission is free but donations to the Richard Burns Foundation charity would be warmly appreciated by the event organisers.