Richard Burns, (right) the only Engli-shman to win the world rally championship, has died of a brain tumour at the age of 34, his family said yesterday.

Burns died in London's Wellington hospital on Friday with family and close friends at his bedside. He had been in a coma for some days.

By a sad coincidence, his death came on the fourth anniversary of his championship win with Subaru in 2001.

The Briton was diagnosed with the astrocytoma, a form of brain tumour, after blacking out at the wheel on his way to the British Rally in Wales in 2003 where he could have won a second championship with Peugeot.

He had been due to return to Subaru in 2004 but the illness forced him to withdraw from that season.

"You don't become a world champion without being a great, great driver," world rally supremo David Richards, whose Prodrive company also runs the Subaru team, said.

"He will stand out amongst them as one of the icons of the sport.

"We were very confident (in 2003) of him coming back to us and winning another title."

McRae rivalry

The only other Briton to have won the championship was Scottish driver Colin McRae, also with Subaru, in 1995. The two drivers were great rivals, contrasting personalities who frequently clashed but also respected one another.

Burns, overall runner-up in 1999 and 2000 and winner of 10 rounds of the world rally championship, had a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy last year and in April this year underwent brain surgery.

Former world rally champion McRae said he would always remember Burns as a fierce competitor.

"Richard was a friend and at the same time a very fierce rival," McRae said in a statement given to Reuters.

"We had many great battles together, notably the 2001 Rally GB when he took the championship.

"I have seen Richard on a number of occasions during the past two years and the greatest battle he has put up was against his illness.

"Richard was a true character in the world of rallying and will be sadly missed as a competitor and a friend to many people."