June 2009
Dumfries played host to the RSAC Scottish Rally, round four of the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy, and round five of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship. Leading up to the event Scottish rally driver Stevie Brown looked to be a firm favourite to clinch the Fiesta Sport Trophy championship round win. A puncture however on the opening stage put an end to his bid for victory losing almost a minute to the leading Fiesta crew.
The eight mile opening test of the day Kinharvie would see Stevie and stand-in co-driver Michelle Falconer set a strong pace at the start of the stage, midway through stage the Five Mile Garage backed Ford Fiesta ST hit a culvert puncturing the front left tyre. "We were on the correct line, and had just started braking for a left hand corner and the front of the car banged through a culvert, causing the front left tyre to puncture, its unbelievable, we seem to have no luck at all just now!" said Stevie at the end of the stage.
By running with the puncture to the end of the stage the Neil R Philip Sign Writing supported crew dropped fifty-three seconds and knocked the tracking out of alignment on the front wheels. Arriving at the first service halt of the day Brown and Falconer were a lowly sixty-first overall and eleventh Fiesta.
Stage two would see the start of Stevie's comeback as the Millers Oils backed driver set the second fastest time. Stage three would see Brown and Falconer set another second fastest time, just two seconds behind Irishman Craig Breen. The fourth test of the day, Twiglees would see the Scottish crew take their first stage win of the day, clawing back an impressive sixteen seconds on leading Fiesta man Kris Hall.
At the stage end Stevie couldn't understand where the time came from. "The time is good for sure, but we were held up in hanging dust from the car in front and were off the road on a fast left hand corner" explained Stevie. With just two stages remaining the North East Specialist Coating backed crew continued their charge; an overshoot on AE West would lose the crew over ten seconds. "I braked too late for a hairpin right near the end of the stage and the car wouldn't stay in reverse gear. It was completely my fault" even with dropping time Stevie and Michelle set third fastest Fiesta time, demonstrating just how hard the Scottish pair were trying.
The final test of the day was the longest of the rally at twelve miles. Brown and Falconer were third fastest through the demanding test. "I just couldn't get into a good rhythm in that stage at all" admitted Brown at the end of the stage.
At the finish of the rally the hard charging crew had worked their way up the leader board to finish the event sixth Fiesta, and twenty-seventh overall. "There's nothing I could have done differently to avoid getting the puncture, but the overshoot was completely my fault, and has meant that instead of finishing the rally fourth we've finished sixth" explained Stevie who was ten seconds behind fourth placed Irishman Mark Donnelly.
Stevie continues, "It's been a disappointing day for us, we had the pace to finish in the top three for sure, and maybe if the puncture hadn't knocked the wheel alignment out we could have been challenging for the win, but these things happen."
While the event may not have delivered the result Stevie had hoped for, the young Scotsman showed he has the pace to challenge for victory in the Kick Energy Fiesta Sport Trophy, and remains one of the most exciting Scottish rally talents in the sport.
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