Mark Higgins returned to winning ways on the
Jim Clark International Rally this weekend, the second round in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship, by taking his third BRC victory in as many years on the event.
Higgins had a steady run after 2007 champion and rival Guy Wilks retired on Saturday when his car caught fire, citing lack of concentration as the most difficult element of the event.
"It was quite hard work even though we had a decent lead," said Higgins at the finish in Kelso. "I even had a few silly spins when the handbrake wasn't working just right.
"But the car and Atlas TEG Sport team have done a great job and it puts us effectively on level points with Guy going to my home event on the Isle of Man."
Drama unfolded behind him though him, with his brother, David Higgins struggling with a differential problem on the final loop of stages, something that dropped the Team TQ.com man into the grasp of the hard charging Stuart Jones. Higgins third place was, however enough to elevate him to the lead of the British series with two rounds gone.
Jones' MG Super 2000 meanwhile was a joy to hear on the fast tarmac stages and his stolen final stage second place puts him in an excellent second place in the championship. The result matched his previous best in the BRC, having finished second on Rally GB in 2006.
James Wozencroft, who had a completely trouble free run, was a career best fourth despite suffering a little with a lack of top speed in his older Subaru. 'Wozie' and Jonny Greer had a good battle towards the end of the event, with the latter running out of stages to move up to fourth, but finishing just 19 seconds down.
Wyn Humphreys was a distant sixth after losing time with a broken radiator on Saturday. He managed to stem the flow slightly, even using a spectator's flask to top up the radiator mid-stage.
