Burns and McRae gear up to emerge from Gronholm's shadow

Almost before you know it, another World Rally Championship is upon us and Britain's two contenders will be grateful to be back at the wheel. Last season was one to forget, the new one offers the opportunity of redemption.

Colin McRae and Richard Burns finished 2002 fourth and fifth respectively in the driving standings. Their combined points total was surpassed by the champion, Finland's imperious Marcus Gronholm.

The beating was all the more difficult for Burns to take, since he was Gronholm's team-mate and drove the same car. The Englishman had gone to Peugeot as titleholder yet could not produce a win all season.

McRae had two victories, but the Ford Focus's deficiency on asphalt undermined his prospects and his diminishing motivation was transparent. The split with his co-driver, Nicky Grist, was symptomatic of his despair.

However, when McRae and Burns line up for the ceremonial start to the Monte Carlo rally this evening and head for the mountains to launch the season proper tomorrow, they will believe they can repair their damaged reputations.

Burns has the benefit of a year's experience with Peugeot and the 206, so he ought to be able to compete with Gronholm from the start. McRae has joined Citroën and, although he may have trouble adapting, the Xsara has proved itself to be fast. The Scotsman also has a knack of making an instant impact.

The 1995 world champion knows his performances will come under close scrutiny. He has only a one-year contract with Citroën and there are those who have questioned his attitude and commitment. Malcolm Wilson, Ford's team principal, suggested the 34-year-old had reached the "make or break'' period of his career. Wilson maintained he would never write off McRae, whose pace was not in doubt. But natural talent alone is not enough.

Gronholm, widely expected to claim a third championship this year, contends that McRae does not work hard enough at his game. McRae has heard these comments, and counters: "I know what I have to do. I don't need anybody to tell me.''

He has evidently thrown himself into the job and has been encouraged by the test times of the Xsara. He has also been comforted by the arrival at Citroën of familiar company in the shape of Carlos Sainz, who also left Ford at the end of last year. McRae appreciates Sainz's input, regarding the Spaniard as a strategic ally while not threatening him in terms of speed.

Citroën's other driver, Sébastien Loëb, may be a different proposition. The Frenchman is younger, perhaps hungrier, and has been involved in the development of the car. He demonstrated his potential in last year's Monte Carlo rally, when an illegal tyre change cost him the chance of victory.

McRae respects Loëb, but his self-belief remains intact. "Sébastien showed last year he was one of the quickest and he knows the car like the back of his hand," he said. "He's definitely capable of winning rallies. We've got a strong driver line-up. I'm still learning the car, but I'm happy with the way things have gone and I feel I can be quicker than Sébastien. The championship is going to be tough, but I have a chance.''

McRae does not, however, believe Citroën, embarking on their maiden full WRC campaign, can be expected to shift Peugeot from top spot in the manufacturers' table. "That would be asking a lot," he said. "There's a great deal of promise here and the long-term objective is championships, but Peugeot have three year's advantage over us. They are still the team to beat.''

Which switches the spotlight on to the other Briton. "Richard has a very good chance this year,'' McRae said. "He's been with Peugeot for a year so he's over the learning period. He'll be up there.'' Burns, in turn, nominates McRae as a genuine threat. "One of Colin's strengths is his ability to get into any car and drive it quickly straightaway. The Citroën is already a good car. So Colin is capable of winning rallies right from the start.''

A winning start to the season would bolster 32-year-old Burns' cause. He felt he was unlucky at critical stages last season, but accepts he could not sustain a real challenge. He believes he now has the foundations in place to build a successful championship bid.

"I'm in a much stronger position this year," Burns said. "I'm at home in the team now and everything is much better.''

McRae has never won Monte Carlo, an event he detests. He argues the unpredictable conditions make it a dangerous lottery. But he, like Burns, will be anxious to put down an early marker.

Tommi Makinen has long been regarded as the benchmark in rallying, but he says this is to be his last season. The 38-year-old Finn hopes to bow out with a record fifth championship and has expressed his confidence in the capability of the new Subaru.

Ford, post-McRae and Sainz, are content their future is in good hands. Their senior driver is now the Estonian Markko Martin, who outpaced his illustrious team-mates at some rallies last season. Ford are convinced he is a potential champion. They also have great expectations of 22-year-old François Duval.

Peugeot also have the tarmac specialist, Gilles Panizzi, but the expert on any surface is Gronholm, and his formidable talent once more obstructs the ambitions of McRae and Burns.

World rally calendar

Monte Carlo 23-26 January
Sweden 6-9 February
Turkey 27 February-2 March
New Zealand 10-13 April
Argentina 8-11 May
Acropolis (Greece) 5-8 June
Cyprus 19-22 June
Germany 24-27 July
Finland 7-10 August
Australia 4-7 September
San Remo (Italy) 2-5 October
Corsica 16-19 October
Catalunya (Spain) 23-26 October
Great Britain 6-9 November