by Geoff Mayes.
2005 Evo challenge winner Ryan Champion put his prize of a full works drive in the 2006 Tesco 99 MSA British Rally Championship to good effect by winning the opening round over the weekend.
Seven previous British champions appeared on the entry list for the opening round, the Pirelli International Rally, based in Carlisle. Amongst the expected battles was the sibling rivalry between Mark and David Higgins. Both previous champions, this would be the first time the two brothers went head-to-head.
David Higgins set the benchmark over the first 8 and a half miles through Bower, but was a mere 0.4 seconds quicker than Ryan Champion, making his debut in the works Mitsubishi Evo 9. Third quickest was the defending champion, Mark Higgins, 1 second down on his brother. An impressive eighth quickest was Guy Wilks in his S1600 Suzuki Ignis, proving that 2wd machinery was not too handicapped on the loose.
Early problems for some of the competitors included Alister McRae who punctured a front tyre 5 miles into the stage and lost time driving it out. Title hopeful Rory Galligan had his hopes dashed when a minor off road excursion damaged an oil pipe, which in turn damaged the engine, making him the first top runner to retire.
Not happy about being beaten by his brother Mark Higgins took up the challenge on Stage 2 and went 4.6 seconds quicker than his old title protagonist, Gwyndaf Evans. Minor gearbox problems hampered David slightly but he was still third quickest and now second overall.
Double British champion, Jonny Milner, was struggling with a minor fuel problem but was still in the top five, whilst Champion had his intercom fail, resulting in an unscheduled excursion up a fire break!
Stage 3, Chirdonhead, saw the third different stage winner in three stages when Champion, intercom now working again, beat Mark Higgins by 0.6 seconds over the 12 mile stage!
In the S1600 battle Wilks was way out front after Ford WRC test driver Roman Kresta had retired with diff problems and team-mate Barry Clark was hampered with a puncture.
Stage 4 was the first run of the 'P zero' spectator stage in Carlisle. Once again there was a new stage winner, as Phil Morrow equalled Mark Higgins time around the short spectator stage.
