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David Higgins: Q&A - EXCLUSIVE |
by Rob Wilkins
TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW IN FULL WITH DAVID HIGGINS: CLICK HERE
Crash.net columnist David Higgins will take in his home event on the Isle of Man soon - the third round in the 2008 Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. David has had a great start to the year in his TQ.com backed Subaru Impreza N14 and thus far has taken two podiums, which gives him the early advantage in the race for the BRC crown.
Crash.net Radio caught up with the 2004 British Rally champion recently and got his thoughts ahead of the Manx...
Crash.net:
David; how confident are you feeling ahead of your home round in the British Rally Championship?
David Higgins:
I don't think you can ever go into a BRC event feeling that confident when you have got competition like Guy Wilks, my brother, Mark, Phillip Morrow and Stuart Jones - such a good load of drivers. Also with an event like the Isle of Man it is very difficult just to finish too. You have got to go there and push extremely hard and you have also got to go there with the knowledge that if you push too hard you can damage the car. It is a long event - and to score you must finish. It is a difficult event, but I am looking forward to it. We have done a lot to the car and I can't wait to get out there now.
Crash.net:
Do you think it will be possible to win there?
DH:
I think it is. I don't think we will win the rally by going out there and leading from the start though. We have a plan in place and I have a fair idea of what is going to happen with a few of the other drivers and they will have a big battle. But I think we can be there, and a lot closer on pace than we were on the last few rallies. If any of them have any problems we will be there to strike back.
Crash.net:
How much of a help will your local knowledge be?
DH:
The local knowledge of the roads won't be there for me. It is a rally that I have done least out of any of the BRC events. The last time I think I finished the event was in 2002 and I have only actually done it three times since 2000. I missed it a few times when I was in America and I also missed it the year I won the BRC because we couldn't afford to go there. I went to China to try and pay for the Ulster Rally afterwards. It is not actually an event I know that well. When I was living there I wasn't competing in rallying.
I am familiar with the area though and it is great having the family and all my mates behind me. The support I get probably drives me on more than the actual local knowledge. But if you said local knowledge I would probably know the stages round here [in Wales] and things like the Pirelli more than I would know the Manx.
Crash.net:
Thus far this year things have gone very well for you in the BRC, do you think you can challenge Guy Wilks and your brother, Mark for the title?
DH:
Yeah - 100 per cent, I am feeling quite comfortable. We got the car late. The car is a new car and it is quite common knowledge that the engine is not quite as good as they had hoped it would be. But we have made some progress in all areas of the car and we have a special new damper for the Isle of Man with some very high tech things on it. We really hope now going to the Isle of Man that we can narrow the gap. But we are also conscious that you have got to be getting the points to win the championship. I know last year Guy won five rallies and didn't finish the others [and took the title]. But I don't think this year anyone will go away and win five events. It will be a slightly different ball game this year to what it was last.
Crash.net:
Have you got any tactics or strategies in mind for the Rally Isle of Man - and the three events after it?
DH:
The main plan for the Isle of Man is to try and get on the podium again like we did on the previous two rallies. Stuart will be a big threat there. Morrow will be a threat as always. Then you have got Mark and Guy too and so there is no foregone conclusion. But if we can be up on the podium and keep improving the car between the rallies, then by the time the Trackrod comes and certainly by the time of the Rally GB - especially as the first day of the Rally GB is a scoring round and on all my local stages, 20 miles or so from my house - I am hoping we will be in a strong position and that we can put some pressure on them.
Crash.net:
The Subaru Impreza N14 is still very new, how are you getting on with it?
DH:
