Ellon rally driver Stevie Brown emerged as the winner on the opening round of the Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK series, the Malcolm Wilson Rally held in Cumbria, Cockermouth.

After a dramatic climax which saw the twenty-year-old driver first equal going into the final stage of the event, Brown pushed to set a time 8 seconds faster than Irish man Liam Regan going on to take the Fiesta Sporting Trophy win. “It’s the perfect start to the season” said the Five Mile Garage supported driver at the end of the event.  

Contending with a new route note system and on only his second outing in the new Fiesta ST, the opening stages of the rally were greatly contrasting for the Scottish crew.

The opening stage saw Stevie and co-driver Ian Morrison set second fastest time, just one second behind the experienced Irish man Alastair Fisher.  Stages two, three and four would however see the Fiesta rookie’s struggle, “I’m finding it really hard to get into a good flow with these notes as I’ve never used them before” explained the Stevie.

Stage five would see the Nicolson Maps supported crew set third fastest time, “we were going better in that stage, it seemed to suit us more than the morning’s stages” said Brown. Now more comfortable with the new car and route note system Brown and Morrison claimed their first stage win of the event on stage 6, to be first equal with Liam Regan heading into the final stage, with James Everard just four seconds behind the lead pair.  Deciding to push for the win the crew overshot the first junction loosing time, Stevie explains. “We braked too late for the first L9 junction and lost a bit of time. At that point I thought we had lost any chance of the lead, but we kept pushing anyway.” As the Scottish crew negotiated the remainder of the stage they stopped the clocks 8 seconds faster than Regan, taking the event win, while Everard took second place.  

“It’s a dream start to the season for us; it’s been so close all day, with just a few seconds here and there.  A big well done to Liam and James, it was a real nail biter going into the last stage!” said the MSA Rally Academy member.