Rochdale driver Steve Brown will get his first taste of modern four-wheel-drive machinery as he is set to tackle the Salford Van Hire Neil Howard Stage behind the wheel of a Volkswagen Polo GTi R5 this weekend [2 November].
Usually found in his potent Nissan Micra Kit Car, Brown will step into the top-flight Volkswagen thanks to a gift from his parents, and he will sample the impressive example at the Oulton Park circuit-based rally.
Brown has only tackled two events in 2024 due to work commitments, with outings in Wales and Belgium marking this year’s time behind the wheel in the Nissan. Taking second in class on the Tour of Epynt in July was a highlight before heading to the Boucles Chevrotines in Europe, in which he was all set to claim a class podium before oil pressure issues forced him out of the rally on the penultimate test.
Now, he will step into the iconic Volkswagen Polo for the Cheshire-based event, marking his debut in the category renowned worldwide as the feeder into Rally1 WRC machinery.
“This is an incredible opportunity, and I still can’t quite believe we will be getting into this generation of R5 rally car,” remarked Brown.
“I’ve always admired the R5 car category, which has been the pinnacle of national rallying worldwide for several decades. I could only ever dream of getting behind the wheel of one, but thanks to a very generous gift from Alan and Pauline, I`m able to actually contest a rally and that’s very exciting indeed”.
Brown’s loyal partners, including Fuchs and Questmead, will back the Polo, which will be run by Rally Sport Connections. It’s a huge step away from the front-wheel-drive Nissan he usually pilots, sporting around 300 brake horsepower, a turbocharged engine, and four-wheel drive. Capable of winning rallies outright, Brown remains realistic for the weekend.
“I’m really excited to have this opportunity and see what the R5 Polo can do. The aim is to just enjoy the day and the experience of driving something as cool as a top-level car like this which has been the staple of British rallying for many years now. I have no expectations in terms of a result as a car like this needs more than just one event to get the most out of it, so I`ll just be looking to make the most out of the experience. Of course, huge thanks go to my parents for making this happen, as well as my sponsors for their support”.
Steve is sponsored by Fuchs Lubricants, PIAA UK, Questmead, Mintex, Brake Prep, SD Graphics, and Magnum Motorsport.