KIDLINGTON'S Richard Burns was today celebrating one of the best results of his driving career by winning the Network Q Rally of Great Britain.

Burns, 27, who leaves Mitsubishi for the Banbury-based Subaru team next season, stormed home to win by 3min and 46.5sec and was fastest in all of yesterday's sections.

He said: "It's been a fantastic rally for me and the car ran perfectly. Things can't get much bigger or better than this."

But the day's biggest talking point was the demise of Carlos Sainz, who was robbed of the World Championship in the cruellest circumstances.

The fourth-placed Spaniard was just 300 yards from the end of the final stage when the engine of his Toyota Corolla caught fire and he was forced to reture.

His ill luck ensured a third successive world title for Tommi Makinen.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.