NETWORK Q Rally winner Richard Burns' celebrations on the podium masked the heartache of missing out on a first World Championship.

The 29-year-old became the first British driver to win his home event three years in succession, but second place for Marcus Gronholm was enough to give the Finn the title.

Burns triumphed by one minute 5.6 seconds to complete an astonishing comeback on the rain-lashed forest tracks of Wales after a mistake left him in a lowly 21st place following the opening stage.

But the Subaru man's fourth win of the season -- and ninth of his career -- still meant he was an agonizing five points adrift of Gronholm having been 14 points ahead of his rival earlier in the season.