Back to gravel

David Higgins is aiming to make it three in a row when he travels back to China this week for the latest round of the Chinese rally championship.

Having won the opening two rounds, the Shanghai Rally and the Huairou Rally in the WY rally team’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9, Higgins and co-driver Ieuan Thomas will contest the Liupanshui Rally on 14th/15th July.

"This is our third time on the Liupanshui Rally," says David. "We won in 2004 and last year we were leading the event when we had problems with the engine overheating. The stages are twisty technical ones which I like so I'm looking forward to it."

The TQ-backed crew's priority for the year is their attack on the British Rally Championship in the TQ RED Toyota S2000R. The last rounds of both the BRC and the Chinese Rally Championship were on asphalt.

"This will be our first rally on gravel for a while," says David. "We'll have a gravel test when we get to China, but it would have been a bonus to be on asphalt because we will be going straight from China to more asphalt stages on Rally Isle of Man. One concern on this Chinese event is actually the high altitude the rally takes place in. You find the engine feels sluggish under those conditions, but it will be the same for everyone."

The Liupanshui Rally takes place in the Guizhou province of China. It's only three weeks since David and Ieuan returned from their last Chinese event.

"It's been a busy time for myself and Ieuan," says David. "But our partnership is working really well. Without Ieuan's help with travel and organisation it would be impossible for me to contest so many events around the world this year."

To keep up to date with David’s progress during the rally keep an eye on the website.