Banbury's Subaru World Rally Team driver Richard Burns is planning a flat-out assault on the penultimate round of the 2001 World Rally Championship, the Rally Australia, which starts on Thursday, November 1.

The season is heading for a nail-biting finale and competition for the 2001 FIA drivers' title is fierce.

Colin McRae and Tommi Makinen are tied at the top of the table with 40 points, Burns is on 34, with Carlos Sainz on 33.

As there are still 20 points still available on the last two rounds, Harri Rovanpera (27 points) and Gilles Panizzi (22) round off the six drivers who are mathematically able to win the title.

Burns said: "I've got a clear understanding of what I need to do in Australia. I'm just going to go for it - I can't win the championship if I don't.

"I need to get a good result here and in GB to win the title and I'm feeling very positive about the situation. If you were to ask me to pick two events to score maximum points on, then Australia and GB would be the ones."

The Oxfordshire team's line-up includes Burns and Robert Reid, Petter Solberg and Phil Mills, and Toshihiro Arai and Glenn Macneall. Burns and Solberg are nominated to score manufacturers' points for Subaru.

The Rally Australia is a high-speed gravel event, which features a road surface unique in the championship. Many of the stages are covered by a thin layer of ball bearing-like bauxite gravel, which when dry can be difficult even to walk on. The surface creates a tough test for chassis and tyre engineers, but has also given Australia the reputation as a tactical rally with drivers keen to secure the best road surface.

Starting position on the road is crucial. Going first is a severe handicap, and as more of the loose layer of marbles is swept off the road by every car, there are clear advantages for those running further down the order.