Former British Rally champion David Higgins reflects on his year to date and looks ahead to the Huairou Rally in Beijing, the second round in the Chinese Rally Championship, which takes place this coming weekend…As most of you probably know, this year we are not competing in the MSA British Rally Championship, we are concentrating our efforts on the Chinese Rally Championship.
With everything that went on in the BRC last year we had decided not to do it this year, but we did start the British Historic Rally Championship. We won our section of the first round, the Bulldog, but I injured my hand at the family rally school when a piece of metal went through it, so I missed the second round, the Pirelli. Bearing in mind that we have to miss further rounds because of clashes with the Chinese championship calendar, the Historic championship is out of our reach so we are unlikely to contest anymore rounds.
That means my outings in the UK this year will be pretty much limited to karting events for now. I go kart racing whenever I can because I feel karting is a great way to keep fit and keep your reactions sharp for rallying.
So our rally outings will be in China, continuing to drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 for the WY Rally Team who we have had record breaking success with over the last few years. As I write, I am in China, preparing for the second round of the season, the Huairou Rally in Beijing. The championship is stronger than ever this year, there has been a step up in terms of both the cars and drivers taking part, and the tyre market has opened up too.
Also, we've always used Tein suspension before but have changed this year so we're back to developing the perfect new set ups again. This will be a tough year.
On the opening round, the Jiangning Rally, we missed out on winning by 36 seconds. On the Saturday we lost 45 seconds when we broke a rear shock absorber and lost time over the next three bumpy stages with it. Without that, we would have won again, but as they say, that's rallying.
We are now preparing for the Huairou Rally in Beijing which takes place this week, from the 10-12 July. The heat was a problem on the opening round, it was so hot that a few people passed out, and it will be 15 to 20 degrees hotter this weekend.
It will be odd being in China competing, knowing that my brother Mark and my cousin Andy Leece are contesting Rally Isle of Man. Being the Manx, that is my favourite BRC round of the year, so it would have been nice to take part if the two events did not clash. But we're happy enough taking a year out of the BRC. And the family Forest Experience Rally School is keeping me more than busy when I am in the UK.
You'll find more details of our plans for this weekend's event in the Rally
UK news section of
Crash.net, and I'll let you know how we get on when I get back.
David Higgins For more information on David Higgins visit his personal website:
http://davidhigginsrally.com/ or simply
CLICK HERE.
