David Higgins overcame a problematic first stage drama on the Answercall Direct Ulster Rally to ensure he stayed at the top of the Kwik-Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship. Driving his SGP prepared Hyundai Accent World Rally Car on the Northern Ireland based rally on 3rd & 4th September, Higgins would not allow a mechanical problem to deprive him a finish in ninth place overall and now holds a slender one point lead in the series with just two rounds remaining.
The Trefeglwys rally driver and regular co-driver, Daniel Barritt experienced a mechanical problem while heading out on the first test of the Armagh based event.
"We had a problem on the car on the first stage something didn't sound right on the car, it turned out to be a driveshaft had popped out on the rear, but we had to complete several stages before getting to service and cure the problem. At service we changed the rear differential as a precaution, which is a difficult job, but the guys from SGP did a mega job to get the car out and still keep us in the rally."
Following the mishap, Higgins was down in 36th place. Over the next batch of stages Higgins had moved up to 21st place and would hold this position overnight.
The first stage in the morning would also see another surge up the leaderboard, with Higgins and Barritt clawing back another seven places to 13th overall. The pair had also moved well ahead of championship rival, Johnny Milner, who suffered an overshoot costing him an extensive time delay and any hopes of challenging David for the championship.
Over the remaining stages the pair kept the pressure on throughout with David and Daniel returning to the Armagh finish in ninth place and keeping that all important championship lead.
"We have to be thankful to the SGP team for keeping us in the rally and to achieve a finish. It has always been a tough rally and this year has been no exception. The roads are so demanding you have to keep focused, following our problem early on it was difficult to get into any sort of rhythm. Getting up to ninth has been a real achievement for the whole team."
The team will now head to Yorkshire for the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire based in Malton on 1st- 3rd October and will look forward to returning to gravel, having held the lead on every gravel event in the championship calendar.
"We knew tarmac would be our weakness, having only completed two rallies in two years and to get through the two with a maximum points score on the first and now this result, we can head to Yorkshire confident we are on the surface we know best. Our biggest concern all year has been our budget to contest the whole championship and that also plays on your mind when driving, although the car is insured we cannot afford to make any mistakes and damage it so we are always driving at a speed where we take no risks."
David and Daniel were supported on the Ulster Rally by Mick O'Brien Plant Hire, Get Connected!, Pirelli, Alpinestars, Forest Experience Rally School, Barretts of Canterbury, Barrier Surveillance, Motorsport Travel, The Inside Line Ltd and MAXIMUM ATTACK PROMOTIONS.
