Thursday 14 February 2013

Brown targets Tour of Epynt for new car debut

Rally driver Steve Brown, from Rochdale,  is hoping to debut his new Mintex Racing, Fuchs Titan Race, 710 Oil's, PIAA and Sabelt UK-supported Nissan Micra on the Tour of Epynt event on 10th March as he kicks off his 2013 MSA Asphalt rally championship campaign.

Brown has been rallying since 2006 when he won the Formula 1000 co-driving championship. In 2007 he swapped seats to drive a Micra in the same championship and he finished 2nd overall as well as taking 1st in class and winning the ANWCC Novice and Junior Driver titles. He went one better in 2008, winning the Formula 1000 championship outright.
 
The Micra was changed to gravel specification for 2009 and Brown won his class in the F1000 Gravel championship before winning the championship overall in 2010, taking four wins out of six events in the process. He also won the BTRDA Junior Driver and RF1.0 championships.
 
An upgrade to a 1300cc engine saw the success on gravel continue in 2011  with numerous class wins but for 2012 Brown reverted to tarmac events, finishing 2nd in class on the MSA Asphalt championship as well as contesting high-profile events such as the Rally Isle of Man.
 
Brown’s 2013 plans involve another assault on the MSA Asphalt series and he is hoping that his new vehicle, a Micra 1300 kit car, will be ready for the opening round.
 
“It’s touch and go whether the car will be finished in time for the Tour of Epynt,” said Brown. “The old Micra is ready to go though so we will definitely be at the event.”
 
“I enjoyed the tarmac events last year so the plan for this season is to do the Asphalt championship again. We’ll be doing most of the rounds and I’m hoping to return to Rally Isle of Man also.”

“I’ve had good results in each of the 7 years I have been competing so hopefully that will continue this season. We’ll definitely be pushing the Micra hard to get as high up the leaderboard as we can. Thanks to Mintex Racing,  Fuchs Titan Race, 710 Oil's, PIAA and Sabelt UK for their valuable support.”
 
The Tour of Epynt will take place on 10th March on the Epynt army ranges near Llandovery in Mid-Wales.