Burns diagnosed with a brain tumor
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Peugeot driver Burns will miss the 2004 rally season
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LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Former world rally champion Richard Burns will miss the 2004 season after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Burns, who won the title with Subaru in 2001, was forced to withdraw from this month's decisive Rally of Britain after suffering a blackout while driving to the event in Wales.
The 32-year-old Briton had been fourth overall in the championship at the time, five points off the lead, and was one of four drivers challenging for the title.
Initial tests failed to discover anything wrong, but a Peugeot statement on Monday said Burns has been diagnosed with a condition known as Astrocytoma and would undergo a course of radiotherapy.
"Richard has been undergoing tests in hospital to determine the cause of the health problem he suffered before Rally of Wales," the statement said.
"These tests have been concluded and the doctors have now confirmed that he has an Astrocytoma. Richard will undergo a course of radiotherapy treatment which the doctors are confident will prove successful."
Burns, who was to rejoin Japanese team Subaru from Peugeot next season, said: "I would really like to thank everyone for their continued support -- it means a lot to me.
"The doctors have advised that I am unable to get back in a rally car for the 2004 FIA WRC Championship and I have to accept that.
"I'm obviously extremely disappointed but I am feeling very positive and I am determined to focus all of my efforts on getting back to full fitness as soon as I can."
Subaru, for whom Norway's Petter Solberg won the drivers' title this year, have yet to decide who will replace Burns.
Team principal David Lapworth said on Monday: "We are very concerned at this news about Richard.
"There will always be future rallies and future championships but for now Richard needs to put his own health first.
"We have not yet had much time to consider all the alternative driver options for next year but we hope to make an announcement in the coming weeks."
One option would be for Colin McRae, who is without a team after being dropped by French outfit Citroen, to return to Subaru with whom he became Britain's first world rally champion in 1995.
