Profile of David Higgins - Rally Driver

Rally family

David was born in 1972 on the Isle of Man. He now lives in Trefeglwys, Mid Wales, with his wife Kara and his children Alicia and Matthew.

The Higgins family operate "The Forest Experience Rally School". They teach rallying skills and give novice drivers the chance to experience the thrill of driving a rally car. David's grandparents and parents have all been successful rally drivers, and David's brother Mark also competes at the highest level in the sport.

As well as teaching in Wales, David travels the world doing 1-2-1 rally coaching in places like Peru, China, USA, Russia, Finland, Australia and France.

Winning ways

In the last few years David has won four major championships in just three seasons of rallying.

In 2002 he was the SCCA Pro Rally Champion in America and the British Group N champion. After that led to a drive with the factory Mitsubishi team in America in 2003, David won six events, retained his title and helped Mitsubishi take the manufacturer's crown too.

For 2004 it was back to Britain and what was supposed to be a one off entry into the opening round of the British Rally Championship in a Hyundai Accent WRC. But after winning the event David contested the full season and became the British Rally Champion. David was also a test driver for the Mitsubishi WRC team, and helped Ralliart Hong Kong win the teams championship in China by winning two of the three events he competed in.

2005 started in style when David used his BRC winning car to win Rallye Sunseeker before switching to the Mitsubishi UK team on the BRC. In 2006 David rallied in the UK, China and finished second in Group N on the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally.

How it all began

David got his first taste of motorsport in motorcycle trials when he was eight years old, and had moved into national kart racing by the time he was ten. David was a highly successful karter. He won seven titles against drivers including David Coulthard, and still karts today.

As soon as he got the chance David moved into rallying and was invited to drive in the team that Richard Burns drove for in the Peugeot 205 Challenge. After just one season he gained a works drive for Peugeot and won Class A5 in the British Rally Championship in 1994.

Around the world

David has gained valuable experience on World and Asian Pacific rallies doing gravel notes for Richard Burns, Colin McRae and his brother Mark. David has also competed in places including Peru, China, Australia, Finland, Russia, USA, France, Italy and Mexico.

Testing and development

One of David's most acknowledged skills is that he can develop a car to ensure it gains the best possible results. Over the years he has been involved in testing for manufactures including Subaru, Seat, Proton, Peugeot and VW. In 2004 and 2005 David was the Mitsubishi test driver for the WRC team.

David is a qualified mechanic which is important in modern rallying with limited servicing. In 1997 he broke a drive shaft in the Seat F2 kit car. Covering 48 miles in one wheel drive, David got the car back to service and went on to finish fourth in class and score vital points which helped Seat go on to win the F2 world championship.