Kidlington's Richard Burns, the Subaru Rally Team driver who currently heads the world championship, is one of 50 staff from Banbury-based Prodrive who will contest a leg of next Sunday's Oxfordshire Fire Service Triathlon.

For Burns, and other Prodrive racing drivers including Ford British Touring Car aces Alain Menu and Anthony Reid, the triathlon constitutes part of the drivers' regular fitness programme. The rest of the Prodrive entry is made up of staff from board members to technicians, caterers and secretaries, some of whom will be looking to achieve strong finishes, while others are taking part purely for enjoyment.

The triathlon is a sanctioned BTA event run by Oxfordshire fire fighters Jim Stanners and Brian Butler, and enjoys support from Cherwell District Council and Serco Leisure.

It starts at 10am with a 750m swim at Woodgreen Leisure Centre, Banbury, followed by a 20km circular cycle ride from Banbury via the neighbouring villages of Broughton and Bloxham, and concludes with a 5km run between Giants Cave and Woodgreen roundabout in Banbury town centre.