HIGGINS LOOKING FOR THE LUCK OF THE IRISH
Returning to the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship still at the head of the series despite missing the last round to take place, David Higgins is keen to keep his lead healthy when he ventures to Ireland for round six of the championship, the Answercall Direct Ulster Rally which takes place on 3rd & 4th September.
The Trefeglwys rally driver will power his SGP prepared Hyundai Accent World Rally Car through the tight and twisty asphalt lanes of the Armagh based event eager to dissolve the gremlins of past Ulster Rallies.
"It will be my first time competing on the Ulster since 1999, I have never had much luck on the rally in the past so we are hoping for a change for the better this year. The rally is absolutely great to contest and has a habit of proving difficult with the weather and the tight road conditions leaving little room for error."
Despite not attending the rally since 1999, Higgins is confident he and regular co-driver, Daniel Barritt can still keep ahead of their rivals on the Irish qualifying round.
"We were the quickest British Rally Championship crew on our last time out driving on tarmac, the Jim Clark Rally. That will be our plan for Ulster, even though we missed the Manx. We will be happy to finish in the top three of the British contenders. The combination of driver, co-driver and car are working really well having led the BRC brigade on every rally so far this year and some bad luck preventing us capitalising on our leads. Although we are stronger on gravel, we should be on the pace again in Ulster. The SGP team provide us with a car prepared to the highest standard and new support coming from Mick O'Brian Plant hire. So all we have to do is give them the result they want."
Higgins missed the last rally in the series, the Manx, due to rally commitments in China, contesting the Kwai Chou Rally in the Guhzo district, where he duely won the rally. He will again return to the Chinese Republic in October for the next event in the Chinese series.
The Answercall Direct Ulster rally gets underway from Armagh on the Friday afternoon at 15.00 hours with 135 miles of competitive motoring to test the competitors. Split into two legs with the first offering fifty two miles over eight timed stages and the remaining mileage over eight stages on the Saturday.
David and Daniel are supported on the Ulster Rally by Mick O'Brian Plant Hire, Get Connected!, Pirelli, Alpinestars, Forest Experience Rally School, Barretts of Canterbury, Barrier Surveillance and MAXIMUM ATTACK PROMOTIONS.
