General News
13 October 2006

	Copyright © Stobart Motorsport

Mark Higgins has been crowned as 2006 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Champion on a day when Ryan Champion won International Rally Yorkshire after a thrilling battle in the forests around Pickering.

Stobart VK Subaru driver Higgins, the 1997 and 2005 champion, finished in second position in the rally, the fifth of the championship, after a thrilling battle with Merlin International's Jonny Milner and SJR Hankook's Gwyndaf Evans.

Higgins fought back from third position at the lunchtime service to overhaul all bar works Mitsubishi driver Ryan Champion in the one day rally played out over the fearsomely fast Yorkshire forest stages made famous by the RAC Rally.

"We took today pretty steady in the morning, maybe too steady, and we had a gearbox problem before the service stop. In the afternoon we could push a little harder but we decided on the last stage not to do anything silly and make sure we finished."

Higgins was overjoyed to take his third BRC title and second in a row. "The championship was always the priority today," said the 35 year-old Manxman. "Everything's gone to plan this year and the team have been fantastic providing me with a great car. We've never been far away from the fastest times on any of the stages all year and that's counted for everything."

Copyright © Stobart Motorsport

Higgins, who drive 2006 model SUBARU Impreza WRX STI spec C had great season with 2 times overall win and three times second outright from five starting this season so far. He made BRC title second in a row with 46 point gap with rest of field.

The Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship now has a two month break before the thrilling season finale in Wales Rally GB, Britain's round of the FIA World Rally Championship, on December 1-3.