The fifth round of the MSA British Rally Championship (BRC),"Toddsleap.com Ulster International Rally” (also part of Irish Tarmac Rally Championship) was held from 21-22 August. After starting the 127 mile event as joint leader in the championship, Mark Higgins finished with a 20 point lead after claiming lonely victory in his 2005 versioned Subaru Impreza.

Their eventual winning margin of nearly three minutes from local youngster Alastair Fisher, partnered by Higgins’ former co-driver Rory Kennedy, certainly does not tell the whole story though, as the event was full of intrigue from the start.

Higgins’ main Championship rivals Keith Cronin had begun well, posting times that made a repeat of the pair’s year-long battle a definite possibility on the Irish event. But disaster struck for the Irishman on the final stage of Friday, going off the road.

At the finish Higgins said, “It is a shame about Keith, but it still means that whoever wins in Yorkshire will take the title. In some respects it was lucky that Gwyndaf (Evans= finished in behind from Higgins on overall classification of the event) was fighting us for the event Group N win. Even though he isn’t registered for points, it has helped keep our concentration.”

The BRC title will be decided at the final round, the International Rally Yorkshire on 26 September 2009.