by Geoff Mayes
With the 2006 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship already preparing for its penultimate round, a sense of familiarity has begun to develop within the championship. As in 2005 Mark Higgins in a Stobart livered car heads to Yorkshire odds on favourite to wrap up his third BRC title with a round to spare.
However, this would give the championship the appearance that there was no competition which would be a total injustice. Three different winners on four events, along with the closest ever finish seen in the history of the championship, when Rory Galligan and Mark Higgins were tied on times at the end of the
Jim Clark Rally, with Mark winning on a tie breaker, and the fact that a number of former champions have gone head to head mean that the 2006 championship must surely be one of the most challenging for a number of years.
Despite not winning the recent Phillip White Tyres Ulster Rally in Ireland, Mark Higgins heads to the International Rally of Yorkshire, or the Trackrod Rally, to give it its familiar name, with a clear points advantage and all he needs to do to clinch the title is to finish higher than 17th overall. This is thanks to a string of podiums throughout the year, including victory on both the Scottish based Jim Clark Rally and his home event, the Rally Isle of Man.
However the fight for the runner-up spot is still hotly contested, and once you bring into account dropped scores (the championship considers the best 5 scores from the season) any one of 10 drivers could potentially claim that honour.
Despite mixed fortunes so far in 2006 Jonny Milner has moved into second position in the championship, and also leads the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge, and with this rally being his home event the double British champion will be looking forward to a strong run. Gwyndaf Evans, another former champion, should also go well here and with recent gravel testing under his belt the Welsh Wizard will be worth watching.
