Diagnosed with an astrocytoma in November 2003, Richard Burns lost his chance of winning a second world championship after leading the title race for most of the season. The potential of recording another motorsport statistic paled into insignificance, however, when the magnitude of the medical battle he was now faced with revealed itself. Those with a medical insight didn't rate his chances, but he took them on - and for two years flew in the face of the fancied opinion. The miracle never came, though, and Richard died last Friday evening.
