Carlisle’s round of the MSA BRC renamed as the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally

A few short days after what would have been Richard Burn’s 42nd birthday, Pirelli and the Cumberland Sporting Car Club confirmed that one of the most established and enduring rounds of the MSA British Rally Championship would adopt Richard’s name in its event title, enshrining the 2001 World Champion’s identity in a key event in his native national rally series.The event, which Richard won in 1993 on his way to becoming the youngest ever British Rally Champion, will be renamed the Pirelli Richard Burns Foundation Rally, and as the second round of the BRC, will run under its new identity for the first time on 4th/5th May this year.The rally, which grew out of the Tour of Cumbria that commenced in 1975, is headquartered at the Carlisle Racecourse and features some of Britain’s most renowned gravel stages in the Kielder Forest complex. The Kielder stages formed the backbone of Richard’s home WRC event during his competitive zenith and the rally has played host to a rolecall of home and international stars over four decades, with the winner’s honours being claimed by drivers from Ari Vatanen to Jimmy, Alister and Colin McRae, from David Llewellin & Gywndaf Evans to Russell Brooks, Robbie Head, Malcolm Wilson, the Higgins Brothers and in more recent times, Guy Wilks and Kieth Cronin.Instrumental in ensuring that the name of England’s only World Rally Champion is prominently visible in his home championship, Pirelli’s Motorsport Director and Richard Burns Foundation Trustee, Paul Hembery, said, “The Richard Burns Foundation is currently focusing on raising funds to provide a travelling ‘Brain Bus’ which will open up to a wider audience the issues and treatment needed for brain and spinal disorder. Pirelli are delighted to lend our support to this fantastic cause by ensuring Richard’s name remains usefully visible to help the Foundation with its fund-raising efforts for the Brain Bus.”