School motorsport: Kinross’ Brown wins scholarship

The award aims to set fresh talent on the road to a successful rallying career and the 17-year-old from Muckhart receives over £1000 worth of support which includes free entry to the prestigious RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries on 29 June, a key round of the Scottish and British Rally Championships.

The two-year scholarship is open to drivers aged under 23 who are registered for the Ecosse Challenge – a feeder series for the MSA Scottish Rally Championship.

Blair, who finished fourth in his first junior season last term, will also receive media training, management guidance and £100 every time he competes in a round of the Ecosse Challenge.

“I am absolutely delighted with winning the scholarship and I am very thankful to RSAC Motorsport. I think it will  benefit me greatly by giving me more media attention.,” said the youngster.

“This will be my first season in the Ecosse Challenge so I will get experience working with the RSAC Motorsport. Without this scholarship I would have struggled in the media stages. It is major part of the season and an opportunity to improve all areas of my rallying.

“The financial aspects will also help a lot. I want to make rallying a career and I know it is very difficult to break into, but I believe that with the RSAC’s support and getting my name out there through this scholarship will be greatly beneficial.”

Blair was brought up around rally cars and began quad bike racing in Scottish championships at 12 years old. After deciding to move into car rallying, he bought and built a Micra with his father and competed in the Junior 1000 season. This year Blair is driving a Peugeot 205 in the Ecosse Challenge.

Garry Headridge, scholarship administrator and deputy clerk of the course at RSAC Scottish Rally said: “The New Talent Scholarship is about giving the opportunity to young drivers to get behind the wheel in a forest and develop their own skills. We look forward to working with Blair in 2013 and into the future.”

Also on hand at the announcement was Callum Atkinson, 22 from Lauder, who is in his second year of the scholarship. He said: “I have gained huge benefit from the scholarship in the past year. It given me a platform to progress in the sport.

“My advice to Blair is, practice as much as you can, the RSAC have been great at giving me help. It brought a lot of  financial benefits, media benefits and I have met new people and contacts within the sport, which is necessary for any  driver to progress.”