Another win for Higgins in China!

David Higgins and Ieuan Thomas have taken yet another win in the Chinese Rally Championship on this weekend's Fogang Rally.

The event took place in the Guangdong region where David battled high temperatures and a few more familiar faces than usual as they were joined on the entry list by his brother Mark and Northern Ireland's Nial McShea.

“We had a fantastic trouble free rally from start to finish,” said David. “We pushed really hard throughout the first day to build up a good lead, despite having to sweep the sandy roads for all of the following cars. We took some big risks, but ended the day with a lead of over a minute ahead of Mark.”

“On the second day we took it a bit easier, ensuring we kept our lead to take another win for the WY Rally Team. We actually backed off a bit because it would have been easy to get punctures on the type of roads we were competing on, and then it rained on the final stage which made it tricky for everyone. We all also battled the heat on this event, the temperature was in the mid 40s throughout which made it extremely hot and uncomfortable.”

Nial McShea was one of several visiting crews who suffered in the high temperatures when he was forced to retire on the first day due to problems with the heat. He had been lying second overall when he retired.

David's brother Mark finished second, 36 seconds back, with round one winner Jussi Valimaki taking third.

Newsflash - Higgins wins the Fogang Rally!

David and Ieuan are just waiting to go over the finish ramp in China having won the Fogang Rally.

The crew say they backed off today knowing it would be easy to get a puncture on the type of roads they were competing on, and added that rain had made the last stage quite tricky too.

David's brother Mark finished second, with Jussi Valimaki third.

Fogang Rally Saturday update

After the first full day of competition on the Fogang Rally, David and Ieuan lead the event by 1m02s.

David's brother Mark and Nicky Grist lie second, following an off earlier in the day. Nial McShea had been running second, but he and his co-driver have had to retire due to problems with the heat as temperatures continue to stay around the 44 degree mark in the country.

Jussi Valimaki lies third, with Dean Herridge fourth.

More news when the rally finishes tomorrow.

Fogang Rally super special update

David and Ieuan have been fastest through today's opening super special stage of the Fogang Rally in China.

The team reported that conditions were extremely uncomfortable as crews struggled to stay cool while they waited for their run through the stage.

Thousands of people attended the event which was recorded and also broadcast live on the main station in China.

David completed the stage in 1m06.9s, Jussi Valimaki was second through at 1m07.3s, and Mark Higgins was third at 1m08.4s. There is a possibility that David's team boss FanFan may have taken third place from Mark by 0.4s, but times are still coming in. Nial McShea cleared the stage in 1m10s.

David and Ieuan are still at the stage, waiting to pick up their winners trophy.

More news tomorrow.

Fogang Rally recce update

David and Ieuan have successfully completed an extremely hot recce for the Fogang Rally, where temperatures continue to soar. Recce days started early to finish by mid morning and try to avoid the warmest parts of the day.

There are reports of a lot of sand on the stages which David will be left to sweep, being first car on the road.

The action begins with a super special tomorrow.

Updates will be posted when possible.

Fogang Rally testing update

While people in the UK are struggling with temperatures in the late 20s, David and Ieuan are building up to the Fogang Rally in a 44 degree, very humid China!

The crew tested their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9 this morning and say it went extremely well, with new Tein dampers and tyres improving the car a lot.

The recce takes place tomorrow and Thursday.

Read David's latest column on Crash.net

As David and Ieuan begin their preparations for the Fogang Rally in China, David's latest column has gone live on Crash.net

Click here to read it.

More new mileage for Higgins in China

David Higgins and Ieuan Thomas set off on their travels again this week for the third round of the Chinese Rally Championship, the Fogang Rally.

The event is based in the Guangdong region and is yet another completely new event for the 2009 season.

“From what we have heard it will be a tough rally,” said David. “The stages are either fast, wide and bumpy, or narrow with drops on the side of the road. The plan is to get a good base set-up from the asphalt events we have done before and modify that for the different stages.

“There have been a lot of emails going back and forth between us and the engineers in China, but it's always hard when you've not actually seen the roads. We've always done well before on new events though, and you have to remember that it's a new event for the whole field, not just us.”

David finished second in the opening round of the championship and won round two, which has helped to put the WY Rally Team at the top of the points tables going into round three, joint on points with the KST team.

With crews from all over the globe contesting the Chinese series this year, David and Ieuan will be joined by some more familiar faces on the Fogang.

“My brother Mark is doing the rally for the KST team,” said David. “He's one of the best asphalt drivers in the world, but we will need to take more points than him. There is also a rumour that Nial McShea will be doing the rally for another team in a new Subaru.”

The Fogang Rally takes place on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th of August.

Another Higgins takes to the race track!

Just one week after David announced his intentions to contest the Super One kart championship next year, his four year old son Matthew has taken to the track too!

Matthew made his karting debut at the Glan Y Gors circuit in Wales today, under the watchful supervision of his father who was also testing at the venue.

"Matthew was driving a bambino class Arrow kart," said David. "And did really well, he showed a lot of promise for the future. I was testing my own kart in between Matthew's runs and had a great day too, lapping the circuit much faster than I ever have before."

Matthew's debut brings the number of karters in David's household up to three as his seven year old daughter Alicia has also taken to the track recently, and is awaiting the arrival of an Arrow cadet kart.

Photo: Alicia Higgins