May 2009
Stevie Brown and co-driver Andrew Roughead overcame numerous challenges to finish first Fiesta driver and 20th overall in one of the most grueling rallies in the British Rally Championship, the Jim Clark Memorial International Rally. With over 160 miles of demanding asphalt stages, and a short over night rest stop offering crews just 3 hours sleep, the event would push teams to their limits.
At the wheel of his Five Mile Garage backed Ford Fiesta ST, Brown admitted to starting round three of the British Rally Championship at a steady pace. "We can't fully commit to the notes as we're still making changes to them on the first pass of the stage" said Brown at the end of the opening leg.
An early start on Saturday morning, with less then 3 hours sleep the 21-year-old driver began leg two of the event. The young Scot would however struggle to negotiate many of the tightened chicanes and hairpins. "We're loosing time on the really tight sections around the bales as our handbrake isn't working. The only way to get round them in one go is to turn the car on the handbrake, so we're having to reverse and take two attempts at them" said the Global Web backed driver.
Despite loosing time on these narrow sections Brown and Roughead finished 45 seconds ahead of their nearest Fiesta rival, and 20th overall in the International rally. "It's been an interesting event for us; the main priority was to get points on the board which we've achieved. The team have done a fantastic job throughout the rally and the car hasn't missed a beat all weekend" explained Stevie.
The team will remain in Scotland for round 4 of the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy, as Dumfries plays host to the Scottish Rally, also forming the fifth round of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship on the 27th June.
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