Could be Windows-related too, of course, although there's not a lot I can say except that hopefully you haven't installed the game to Program Files or Users. Not that it necessarily matters if you have, but it's just something we tend to say to anyone in trouble.
Another commonly uttered advice involves running RichardBurnsRally_SSE.exe as an administrator and adding it as an exception in DEP settings but while they are known to have fixed all kinds of RBR symptoms, somehow I can't see them fixing yours. However, the very fact that I can't see it suggests that you should always try it first.