Brown’s successful Belgium baptism

Photo: FlatOut.be

Steve Brown in action last weekend in his Nissan Micra kit car

Rochdale rally ace Steve Brown headed to Belgium last weekend to kick off his Flanders International Rally Challenge (FIRC) campaign and came away with a confidence boosting fifth in class and 54th overall at the ORC Canal Rally.

After finishing runner up in the B9 class of last year’s MSA Asphalt Championship here in the UK, Brown is heading across the English Channel this season in his Nissan Micra Kit Car and the season-opening result has kick started his 2016 championship assault.

Along with regular co-driver Paul Stringer, Brown was understandably apprehensive on his first outing in mainland Europe and the first of six rounds would take place over around 100km of special stages which surround the town of Oostrozebeke in the North West of the country. With over 140 crews tackling the event alongside a healthy UK contingent tackling the FIRC, Brown would head to the event with a goal of simply finishing the challenging rally.

It was a nervous start for the 28-year-old, but once the first stage was complete Brown found a pace he was happy with and soon began to claw his way back up the leader board.

The roads in Belgium are notorious for their unforgiving nature but Brown kept his cool to emerge from the first loop of stages sixth in class 3F and 68th overall.

Despite being up against larger engine rivals, Brown soon stepped up the pace of the 1400cc machine and settled into a comfortable rhythm on the mud strewn roads. Conscious not to take any risks, he stayed out of trouble to score an impressive fifth in class, scoring a decent points haul to kick off his FIRC campaign.

Brown said: “That was the best possible start to our season and I’m overjoyed to have completed my first overseas with a trouble free run.

“I was certainly apprehensive coming here for the first time but once we got used to roads, our times began to come down so we are heading in the right direction for the next round of the series. The event was fantastic with a great format which suited us really well.

"It certainly was a big challenge though and its nothing like rallying in the UK, but the plan was always to build up our pace from the start so everything has gone to plan really.”

There is no time to relax as Brown will need to ready the car in record time.  He said: “It’s a tight turnaround as the next round of the series, Rally van Wervik ,takes place on the 11 June. Luckily we suffered no damage and no troubles so it will be a quick spanner check and get back on the boat again. I really can’t wait.”

Brown is supported in 2016 by Fuchs Titan Race, Questmead Ltd, 710, PIAA and Pirelli.