David Higgins took a comprehensive win on the opening round of the Kwik Fit Pirelli British Rally Championship after winning over half of the ten competitive stages in the north-east of England.

The Manxman's Hyundai Accent came home with a two-minute advantage over the rest of the field, which was led by occasional WRC entrant Alistair Ginley, with British Superbike team boss Paul Bird taking a strong third place.

The expected opposition from reigning BRC champion Jonny Milner evaporated when the Team Dynamics Subaru suffered significant damage and delays in a roll, and was retired shortly before the end of the event.

Production class honours went to Sebastian Ling, who headed Dorian Rees and Neil Buckley right from the opening stage, while visiting Finn Aki Teiskonen and Briton Barry Clark got the better of long-time leader Alessandro Broccoli in Super 1600.

Willie Bonniwell won the accompanying Fiat Stilo Cup round, while Sweden's Jennie Lee Hermansson came home at the head of the unofficial ladies' class.