But in a perverse way, the incident lit a fire that had never been seen burning in the redhead. Incensed but invigorated, Burns bounced back to come within seven points of beating Makinen to last year's title. Kankkunen can never be ruled out, but Burns is more likely to be challenged over the mile-high South American mountain roads this weekend by Peugeot's Marcus Gronholm and, depending on the continued reliability of the Ford Focus, by Colin McRae. Spain has been his only win in 14 months. The rally runs west from Cordoba into the foothills of the Andes, climbing to over a mile high on stages that look like a moonscape.
Passionate fans flock into the hills to cheer on the cars.
Their biggest hero is Spaniard Carlos Sainz, but this year the fans are likely to be disappointed. Burns will be the man to beat.