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Richard Burns, who won the world rally championship in 2001, has died at the age of 34 after a long illness, according to The Times Online website.
Burns had not competed since he passed out at the wheel of his road car on the way to the Wales Rally GB in 2003.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery in April.
Burns was championship runner-up in 1999 and 2000 before becoming the first Englishman to land the coveted world title 12 months later.
Burns made his rallying breakthrough in 1990 when he won the national 205GTI challenge series and he then lifted the Mintex National series title.
He then joined Subaru and became the British Championship's youngest winner in 1993.
After a spell in the Asia Pacific Championship and the occasional world championship drive, he entered for his first full season in 1998, partnering world champion Tommi Makinen for Mitsubishi.
Twelve months later he moved to Subaru and he made his first title challenge as wins in Greece, Australia and Britain helped him finish second in the final standings.
In 2000 he looked on course to win the world title, having led the championship race for some time, but he was pipped to glory by Marcus Gronholm - even though he won the season-ending Rally of Great Britain.
However he was not to be denied and in 2001 he became the first Englishman to take the championship.
After a poor start to the season, he finished second behind Colin McRae in Argentina to spark his challenge. Two more runners-up spots followed before he earned his first victory of the campaign in New Zealand.
Another second spot - this time in Australia - set up a thrilling finale at the Rally of Great Britain where Burns delighted his home fans by finishing third, which was enough to clinch the title.
He switched teams in the close-season, leaving Subaru for Peugeot but made a disappointing start for his new outfit, failing to win an event all season despite managing four second-place finishes.
Burns had not competed since he passed out at the wheel of his road car on the way to the Wales Rally GB in 2003.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour and underwent surgery in April.
Burns was championship runner-up in 1999 and 2000 before becoming the first Englishman to land the coveted world title 12 months later.
Burns made his rallying breakthrough in 1990 when he won the national 205GTI challenge series and he then lifted the Mintex National series title.
He then joined Subaru and became the British Championship's youngest winner in 1993.
After a spell in the Asia Pacific Championship and the occasional world championship drive, he entered for his first full season in 1998, partnering world champion Tommi Makinen for Mitsubishi.
Twelve months later he moved to Subaru and he made his first title challenge as wins in Greece, Australia and Britain helped him finish second in the final standings.
In 2000 he looked on course to win the world title, having led the championship race for some time, but he was pipped to glory by Marcus Gronholm - even though he won the season-ending Rally of Great Britain.
However he was not to be denied and in 2001 he became the first Englishman to take the championship.
After a poor start to the season, he finished second behind Colin McRae in Argentina to spark his challenge. Two more runners-up spots followed before he earned his first victory of the campaign in New Zealand.
Another second spot - this time in Australia - set up a thrilling finale at the Rally of Great Britain where Burns delighted his home fans by finishing third, which was enough to clinch the title.
He switched teams in the close-season, leaving Subaru for Peugeot but made a disappointing start for his new outfit, failing to win an event all season despite managing four second-place finishes.
Such a great man, such a big loss.
