Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Friday, 4 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The APRC is held in a diverse range of countries, climates, and cultures, with a huge population base of over 2.5 billion people. Ranked as an extension to FIA’s apex World Rally Championship, the Asia Pacific Rally Championship is the leading Rally Championship for Asia Pacific and is also considered to be a top contender for the region’s premier event.
Murray Brown’s presence here in Sri Lanka, is an affirmation of EZY’s racing prowess and a recognition of Sri Lanka as a worthy contender for the APRC. “Participating in a FIA (governing council for motor racing, worldwide, similar to ICC in cricket) is not an easy task and Murray’s presence validates our years of hard work and preparation,” said Team Principal and CEO of EZY Racing Shafraz Hamzadeen.
Brown who has an impressive track record in his current role as APRC Coordinator, is an active member of the APRC Working Group (with responsibility to the FIA for the managing and running of the APRC) and is involved in all matters pertaining to APRC, including administrative matters in conjunction with the APRC secretariat, liaising with FIA and regional representatives on APRC matters, liaising with organisers and ASN’s on their events, liaising with teams both current and prospective, promoting APRC to prospective competitors including production of APRC brochures, liaising with media interest in the APRC, working with and liaising with sponsors current and prospective, planning and advising APRC executive on logistics matters for the APRC, working with teams for logistics management for the APRC, advising on and jointly writing APRC regulations and guidelines, providing regular information to teams and organisers, developing and encouraging new events in the region, observing events on behalf of APRC for future involvement, working together with FIA to promote and support rally sport in the region, whilst specifically acknowledging the regions needs.
In his 20 years of competition as a rally driver and 25 years involvement in APRC and motorsport in the region, Brown has been the owner and Managing Director of Countdown Motorsport Logistics, General Manager of Possum Bourne Motorsport (NZ) until the death of Possum (Peter) Bourne 2003, Team Manager for Subaru Rally Team Australia (SRTA) for the 3 car team and 9 times Australian Rally Champions with Possum Bourne, Subaru Impreza Gp A, WRC 98, WRC 00 and Gp N.
He has also managed a World Land Speed Record attempt successfully, managed a World Solar car challenge team (completed it), and for 15 years managed teams for privateers in APRC and WRC. He has been APRC Coordinator since 2005.
In 2014 seven events make-up the championship starting in New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia and then onto Asia – Malaysia, Japan, China and Thailand. Teams and drivers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and many more countries have entered, driving the latest rally cars from Skoda, Citroen, Proton, Renault, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Toyota.
The APRC rally championship is considered to have it all and is considered to be a crowd entertainer across countries. APRC.TV Ltd (www.aprc.tv) has been the official television producer for the championship since 1999 and in 2012, 517 million TV viewers in 196 countries watched coverage of the APRC. Murray Brown’s presence in Sri Lanka will hopefully encourage other local corporates to view motor racing as a means of promoting themselves in international markets, as racing as a sport is fast gaining recognition as a contender vis a vis popularity internationally.
