PWRC: Higgins to miss Japan?

Britain's Mark Higgins may have to pull out of the Rally Japan this weekend after breaking his collar bone in an accident back in the UK.

Although Mark has travelled out to Japan for the sixth round in the 2007 FIA Production Car World Rally Championship and completed the reconnaissance and shakedown, he has since conceded that he may not be fit enough to actually take in the event.

"I broke my collar bone in an accident at my home before I came to Japan. I managed to drive the recce, as this was in a right hand drive automatic saloon car, but I am worried how I will manage on the rally," he confirmed to the events official website.

"My rally car is left hand drive. After I made my first pass in shakedown, we asked the Top Run Team mechanics to alter the seat mounting position, to make the car more comfortable to drive.

"I do not know though if I will be able to do more than just cross the start line before I have to retire."

If Higgins is unable to start it will almost guarantee local ace, Toshi Arai his second PWRC title. Arai currently has a 24-point advantage over Higgins in the 2007 PWRC standings, however Higgins has two events in hand over the Japanese driver, who opted not to nominate Ireland and Britain, as part of his six-points scoring events.

Higgins and Arai though are not the only two in contention for the title, as Gabriel Pozzo also has an outside chance, although he is even further adrift than Higgins, having only notched up 12 points - 27 points less than Toshi.