Richard Burns roared to an historic hat-trick of victories on the Rally of Britain yesterday but failed to take the world championship as second place for Marcus Gronholm was enough to give the Finn the title.
Burns triumphed by over a minute to complete an astonishing comeback on the muddy tracks of a rain-lashed south Wales after a mistake left him in a lowly 21st place following Friday's opening stage.
But the Subaru driver's fourth win of the season - and ninth of his career - still meant he was five points adrift of Gronholm having been 14 points ahead of his rival earlier in the season.
Burns did all he could after being handed a lifeline when rally leader Colin McRae crashed out yesterday by setting a series of blistering times.
Fears that over-zealous Burns fans would give Gronholm a welcome in the hillsides he would rather forget, by laying rocks and tree trunks in his path of his Peugeot 205, never materialised.
Gronholm kept his nerve on the final three stages west of Cardiff yesterday and refused to take any risks over the 52 miles knowing a top five finish was all he needed for the championship. The 32-year-old comfortably achieved his target.
"I do not begrudge Marcus the championship," said Burns after also becoming only the third man to win the famous event three years running, emulating Erik Carlsson (1960-62) and Timo Makinen (1973-75).
"He has been under pressure here and in Australia but has not made any mistakes and deserves the title.
"I have been beaten by the better driver this year so next year I will have to do better. I will be raring to go when the season starts in Monte Carlo in January."
Gronholm is the sixth Finn to win the title since its inception in 1979.
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