Higgins now shares four victories with Tony Pond and Russell Brookes, who last won in 1990. Irish championship runner, Eamonn Boland, was just eleven seconds behind as the cars crossed the finish line in front of the famous TT grandstand.
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This was most special for Higgins’ co-driver, Kennedy, having been close to winning on 10 previous occasions; it means the Irish co-driver as won all of the British and Irish Championship events in his illustrious career.
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Higgins’ victory in his Impreza also means that he now has an advantage in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship over Guy Wilks, who finished a distant second (in the BRC component) after a day one off cost three minutes. His climb back up the leaderboard in the distinctive Mitsubishi Motors UK Evo 9 was only ever going to net him second though, as the battle for overall honours kept Higgins pushing for quick times.
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Third, having been passed on the morning of the final day by a charging Wilks, were David Higgins and Ieuan Thmas, the solid points score more than enough to mean he retains the lead of the championship.
Higgins, brother of event winner Mark, admitted that the new car package probably wouldn’t have the pace to keep Wilks at bay, but was pleased with the car’s development.
Final Results:
1 Mark Higgins/Rory Kennedy (Subaru Impreza Gp N) 2h 40m 19s,

2 Eamonn Boland/Damien Morrissey (Subaru Impreza WRC) 2h 40m 30s,

3 Guy Wilks/David Moynihan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 Gp N) 2h 44m 05s,

4 David Higgins/Ieuan Thomas (Subaru Impreza Gp N) 2h 45m 38s,

5 James Wozencroft/Chris Ridge (Subaru Impreza Gp N) 2h 49m 54s,
Photos: www.cmwi.net
 Mark Higgins took his fourth Manx Rally win. Eamonn Boland was second in an Impreza WRC. Guy Wilks' off cost him the chance of victory. Darren Gass flies high in his Mitsubishi.
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