Having taken the runner-up spot in the 2021 National Rally Champion title fight, Durham rally driver Stephen Petch will step into the BRC1 category this season, driving a Hitachi Construction Machinery-backed Ford Fiesta Rally2.
Petch is one of the most experienced drivers on the national rally scene with well over 120 events under his belt since 2001, securing the 2017 BTRDA championship in a Fiesta WRC.
Bringing the noise to the BRC National race in 2021, Petch and co-driver Michael Wilkinson took victory in Yorkshire, but narrowly missed out on the title which went to Scot Garry Pearson.
Armed with new backing from Hitachi Construction Machinery, Petch will return to the BRC in 2023 but this time in the top-drawer BRC1 category and fight for the coveted title.
He will also contest the Scottish Rally Championship in the M-Sport-built machine and opened his account at the Snowman Rally with seventh spot.
Image courtesy of Russ Otway / 90Right.com
