Weekly Motorsport Round-Up #9

FUCHS-backed rally driver Steve Brown suffered a disappointing debut in his new Honda Civic.

Rochdale ace Brown was forced out of the ORC Canal Rally in Belgium after just the second stage of the event.

Brown wasn’t able to use the Honda at the beginning of the Flanders International Rally Challenge due to transmission problems.

He had used his Nissan Micra Kit Car in the opening rounds but was pleased when the Honda became available to him and was hoping for a solid haul of points in Oostrozebeke in West Flanders.

But Brown and co-driver Paul Stringer were left disappointed just a few miles into the second test of the day when a brake pipe broke.

“I’m really gutted to end the rally like this after all the work the team has put in to get us here,” said Brown, who is unable to contest the next round of the series due to other commitments.

The third round of the 2017 FUCHS LUBRICANTS R.A.C Historic Asphalt Rally Championship, the Welsh Marches Mini Epynt Stages, takes place this Sunday.

Neil Williams and Roger Moran head the contenders thanks to their good local knowledge of the spectacular venue. They should set the pace among an excellent entry of 15 historics. The Welsh Marches Mini Epynt Stages is unusual in that it only uses the roads at the Western side of the Epynt ranges and the 10-stage event has already proved to be a popular addition to the FUCHS R.A.C. Historic Asphalt Championship.

Williams and Peter Hames were winners of round one, but they can expect a big challenge from the BMW M3 of Moran and Keaton Williams.

A second M3 joins the championship in the hands of Paul Smith and Tudor Jenkins, while Barry Stevenson-Wheeler/John Pickavance (Escort Mk2) and Lyndon Barton/Simon Hunt are also tipped to impress.

After a hefty accident on round two in Belgium, Graham Muter and Colin Watson revert to a 1600cc Escort Mk2, while Epynt ace David Kynaston fields his thundering Triumph TR7 V8.

Maintaining the variety that has become a feature of the championship is the Hillman Avenger Tiger of Ian Robertson/Andrew Scott in the Capital Construction Category 2. The Vintage Car Radiator Company Category 1 entry is capped by the Porsche 911 of championship pacesetters Dessie Nutt and Geraldine McBride, with the MG Midget of Bob Seager/Simon Hannam leading the chase.

Joining the field for this event are four crews staying over from Saturday’s Severn Valley Stages to get some Epynt mileage ahead of the Mintex MSA British Historic Rally Championship round on the Harry Flatters Rally at the end of July. Nick Elliott/Dave Price, Rudi Lancaster/Guy Weaver, Simon Webster/Jez Rogers and Ben Friend/Cliffy Simmons are all very rapid Ford Escort Mk2 crews and will be switching their cars to asphalt trim following Saturday’s gravel rally.

The clock is ticking towards the next round of the MSA British Rallycross Championship at Pembrey race circuit in South Wales on June 25.

The FUCHS-backed Bellerby sisters, Drew and Paige, will be looking for more success – but their cars have needed a bit of work to get them ready.

Drew’s BMW needed the suspension rebuilding and the team have been working with experts AVO (UK) to repair the damage she did at Lydden.

Also in the wars at Lydden was Paige, whose Lotus was found to have a broken brake disc when the car was taken back to the workshop.

All problems have now been resolved and both are looking forward to taking on the newly designed Pembrey circuit.