Pirelli’s Hembery made Richard Burns Foundation trustee

Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s motorsport director, has become a trustee of the Richard Burns Foundation, established in memory of the 2001 world rally champion. “Richard was the first world champion I worked with and he set the bar in terms of being a highly motivated and competitive athlete, while remaining a very grounded, decent person and I was proud to call him a friend,” said Hembery. “Taking on the role of trustee for the Richard Burns Foundation is a privilege.”

Hembery is currently overseeing Pirelli’s return to the Formula One World Championship under a three-year agreement from 2011-2013. He formed a close alliance with Burns when the Englishman won rallying’s top honour at the wheel of a Pirelli-shod Subaru Impreza WRC 10 years ago.

The Richard Burns Foundation was formed after Burns passed away from brain cancer in November 2005. On the 10th anniversary year of Richard’s world title triumph, the RBF has refocused its charitable endeavour to support the work of the Brain & Spine Foundation as part of a wider mission to establish an improved national network of advice and specialist support for those suffering from neurological injury and illness in the United Kingdom.

Burns won eight of his 10 world championship rallies using Pirelli tyres and Hembery hopes that his extensive commercial expertise and experience in motorsport will be able to assist the RBF in its work.

“Despite becoming an international star, Richard always maintained a common touch and never forgot the support network that had helped him progress to the WRC,” said Hembery. “Just like Pirelli, I hope the RBF will continue to follow Richard’s example and recognise that our future is in our youth and whatever can be done to help young people disadvantaged by neurological illness and injury will be a fitting way to remember our friend.”