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Tempest South of England Rally - 5-6 Nov 04

Posted: November 8, 2004 10:07 PM - 5882 Hits

Final Round - 2004 KWIK-FIT PIRELLI MSA BRITISH RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

Higgins is crowned Champion - Brian Murphy wins the Co-drivers Championship

Wowing the crowds with a thrilling display of tactical speed on the South of England Tempest Rally, Championship rivals David Higgins and Austin MacHale went into the final round of the championship neck and neck. Remaining almost inseparable throughout the two days, David finally pulled ahead by 8.7 seconds.

Posted: November 8, 2004 10:07 PM

I'm delighted to have won the home series. This year we have been in the right car but it has been difficult to focus on the championship as we never knew if we would have enough money to compete on the next round," said David.

But while championship talk surrounded the intense battle between David Higgins and Austin MacHale, the leaderboard was dominated by Mark Higgins in the Eddie Stobart supported Ford Focus WRC. The older Higgins brother who was British rally champion in 1997 led the 18 stage rally from the start, finishing nearly one and a half minutes clear of David.

"It has been a memorable day for the Higgins family", said Mark before heading straight to the airport and a flight to Australia, to compete in the final round of the World Rally Championship next weekend.

But while the front runners were competing for championship honours, the Tempest Rally provided the finale for numerous class awards. The early demise of Production Cup hopeful Sebastian Ling helped Dorian Rees earn his first British Rally Championship title and Scot Lorna Smith claimed the Ladies title at her first attempt.


1 Mark Higgins/Bryan Thomas (Ford Focus WRC) 1:06:34.9
2 David Higgins/Daniel Barritt (Hyundai Accent WRC) 1:07:58.6
3 Austin MacHale/Brian Murphy (Ford Focus WRC) 1:08:07.3
4 Matthew Wilson/Scott Martin (Ford Focus WRC) 1:09:35.9
5 Will Nicholls/Nick Broom (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:12:50.2
6 Simon Hughes/Glen Patterson (Subaru Impreza) 1:13:01.6
7 Dorian Rees/Patrick Walsh (Subaru Impreza WRX) 1:13:19.9
8 Guy Wilks/Phil Pugh (Suzuki Ignis S1600) 1:13:36.0
9 Steve Fleck/Mark Aspinwall (Subaru Impreza WRC) 1:13:55.2
10 John Lloyd/Pauline Gullick (Subaru Impreza) 1:13:57.1