Brown returns to Flanders challenge

NISSAN Kit Car pilot Steve Brown returns to the FIRC thanks to extended backing

After a podium finish on last year’s Flanders International Rally Challenge (FIRC), Rochdale rally driver Steve Brown will return to the series once again in 2017 thanks to backing from sponsors.

Brown will head back across the Channel in a bid to improve on his third place in the two-wheel-drive category.

The Belgium-based Championship proved to be a hotly contested affair for the Nissan Micra driver last season and along with codriver Paul Stringer, the duo have set their sights on a class win after using last season to settle into the unique nature of the Flanders closed public roads.

The 28-year-old Questmead Sales Engineer rounded off his 2016 season with a top ten finishing position in the Challenge and was buoyed by a category win on the final round in Kortrijk. Brown will have one eye on the class spoils once again, despite facing much more powerful machinery in the group.

Brown said: “It was a steep learning curve last year and after we sorted out a few teething troubles with the car, we really started to improve our pace.”