Brown named REIS Star Driver with final round victory in Wales

Photo: Wayne Turner

Steve Brown in action in his Nissan Micra Kit Car on the Mewla Rally

Rochdale rally driver Steve Brown finished his season in style with a class win at the Mewla Rally.

Needing to secure victory at the final round of the REIS MSA Asphalt Rally Championship if he was to stand any chance of taking the B9 title, Brown duly came up with the goods last weekend as he took a class win at the The Old Forge Garage Mewla Rally in Wales.

After leading from the opening test across the Epynt Military Ranges near Builth Wells, Brown scored his second class win of the year in his debut year with the new Nissan Micra Kit Car and was named REIS Star Driver in the process.

Unusually for the Welsh mountainous stages, the day dawned dry and Brown had spent the summer break planning his attack on the new final round of the series. The aim was simple and clear for the 27-year-old who knew nothing less than a win would do. Joined by co-driver Jane Edgington, the duo stamped their authority on the timesheets from the word go, opening up a sizeable gap to the remaining B9 1400cc runners.

Brown dropped time on the middle loop of stages across the unforgiving ranges, but by lunchtime, normal service was resumed and Brown settled into a comfortable rhythm during the closing stages of the day, even setting a time just outside the top 20 on the seventh stage of the event. He finished the event almost a minute clear of his closest challenger and title rival, Ian Barnard.

The Nissan driver was overjoyed with the result: “We had a clear goal today and that was simply to win” said Brown. “It’s a really tricky place and although I felt really confident coming into the event, I`m still really pleased with how I drove today. Considering this time last year the car wasn’t even built, it’s a real achievement to be winning events with a car this new out of the box, it’s a great feeling. To win the REIS Star Driver award is really an honour too, I’m glad someone was taking notice of our performance.”

Even with a sizeable victory under his belt, it was not enough to secure the sought after class B9 title: “We did everything we could this weekend but it sadly still wasn’t enough. Ian (Barnard) took second today meaning we finish just two points behind him in the championship, which is a really close battle. It’s easy to over analyse these things but with the final round on Otterburn being cancelled, it’s really battered the title chase, but I guess it’s the same for everyone.

"I’d like to say a huge thanks to all the team for all their efforts this year, my co drivers Paul Stringer and Jane Edgington and of course to my sponsors Questmead Ltd, Mintex, Fuchs Titan, PIAA, 710 oils, Power Maxed and SIX80 Limited.

"I simply could not have achieved what I have this year without them all.”

Brown will now look towards 2016 to decide the next step in his rallying career.