Weekly Motorsport Round-Up #2

FUCHS TITAN RACE-backed Asphalt rally driver Steve Brown had a shorter than usual event last weekend after his Honda Civic was side-lined by transmission gremlins at the SMC Stages in Anglesey.

The Rochdale driver had swapped his usual Nissan Micra Kit Car for a loaned Honda and contested the North Wales-based event to acquire seat time in the new machine before crossing The Channel to begin his assault on the Flanders International Rally Challenge (FIRC) in Belgium.

But drama struck on the opening test of the day when the Honda developed a transmission issue and despite attempts to cure the problem during the morning, Brown was forced out of the event.

Brown will use the Type R Honda for the early part of the season and has his eyes set firmly on bettering his 2016 result of third overall in the two wheel drive category of the FIRC this year.

Whilst the Micra is undergoing a raft of changes to improve on the horsepower shortage which it suffers against others in the class, Brown has been offered the use of the Civic for the season.

“At least it happened in North Wales and not in Flanders,” said a pragmatic Brown.

Brown and the team now face a race against time to get the car ready for Salamandre.

Elsewhere, Martin Wilkinson and his team at Carlisle-based CA1 Sport made the long trek to Minehead last weekend for the Somerset Stages rally, where Tom Preston and co-driver Andrew Roughead finished in ninth position following a couple of spins.

They have a quiet period now until the Pirelli Rally in their hometown.

Easter weekend is always a big one in motorsport – and this year it’s a real egg-travaganza for FUCHS’ army of sponsored racers.

Donington Park is the next venue for Adam Morgan in his Mercedes at the British Touring Car Championship meeting on Saturday and Sunday.

Adam will be attempting to improve on his results from Brands Hatch. Adam is currently lying fourth in the championship table following his podium visit last time out.

Paige and Drew Bellerby are also back behind the wheel at the Lydden Hill round of the British Rallycross championship on Monday.

However, they are going to attend the practice day at the circuit on Friday, then spend the next two days making sure the cars are sorted before the main event.

Meanwhile, in the British Superbikes, SILKOLENE-backed Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will be hoping to bounce back from the bitter Round One disappointment when he heads to his home track, Brands Hatch.

Shakey was knocked unconscious after coming off his Ducati at Donington in the warm-up, but they call him the ‘King of Brands’ for a reason and he’ll be hoping for a big points haul on the Indy circuit this weekend.