Burns is on an enforced sabbatical from the WRC calendar

The Englishman pulled out of last year's Rally Great Britain after collapsing at the wheel of his car.

He was subsequently found to be suffering from an astrocytoma - a virulent form of brain tumour.

Co-driver Robert Reid said: "Richard has improved to the point where he's at home. At the beginning of January, he'd lost a hell of a lot of weight."

Reid added: "He couldnt get out of bed for a while. I think the feeling of the people close to him at the moment is we are making progress, but that we've still got a fair way to go.

"It's been a big shock. I've seen him very, very ill.

"But there have been a lot of great moments, things that feel almost as good as winning a world championship rally, but they're very small, very personal things, just to see somebody making an improvement."