March 2009
Stevie Brown will make his international rally debut on this weekend's Bulldog Rally in North Wales, with top British co-driver Andrew Roughead. The British Rally Championship curtain raiser will see the most exciting rally talents in gather for what is billed to be a thrilling battle for class and overall honours.
The Millers Oils backed driver will negotiate the Welsh gravel stages at the wheel of his Ford Fiesta ST, as the event also forms part of the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy championship. "We're going to drive with our head on this event as we're driving for two championships, and it's important to get points on the board early in the year" explained Stevie.
Stevie will be partnered by internationally acclaimed co-driver Andrew Roughead. The Englishman has competed in World Rally Championship events and national championships in New Zealand and Britain. The 22-year-old from Newcastle said, "The British Rally Championship and the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy are the places you need to be just now in Britain if you want a natural progression in the sport."
As the Five Mile Garage supported crew start the event on Saturday morning, they will be aiming to cross the finish line in a top 3 position. "The first round of the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy didn't exactly go to plan, so to realistically keep our hopes alive of winning the championship we need a strong result this weekend" said Stevie.
Stevie will enter unknown territory as he tackles many of the stages for the first time, and says the weekend will certainly provide plenty of new challenges. "I've done a few rallies in Wales now, but I would imagine that most of the stages will be new to me. I'm used to doing 40 stage mile gravel rallies, but this event is double that distance, meaning preserving the car will be more of an issue."
As the British Rally Championship is set into motion, Stevie and Andrew will face one of the most demanding challenges of their 2009 rally season, when they undertake the International Bulldog Rally.
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