Photos: Lars Gange | rally.subaru.comAfter extensive testing, the team headed to Atlanta, Michigan, for the always tough and snowy Sno*Drift Rally. By the end of the weekend, it was Mirra along with Marshall Clarke as his new co-driver who found himself on the podium with a 2nd-place finish. Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew failed to finish after a rare engine failure.
The next four rallies could not have gone much better for Higgins/Drew, though. After a 2nd-place finish at the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, they took three consecutive victories at the Olympus Rally, the Oregon Trail Rally, and the Susquehannock Trail Rally.
Although Higgins/Drew had a comfortable points lead going into the season finale, the New England Forest Rally, they had to finish 4th or higher to secure the title from Antoine L’Estage, the defending Rally America Champion and Canadian Rally Champion. Not surprisingly, Higgins drove conservatively and was more than happy with a 2nd-place finish.
Photos: Lars Gange | rally.subaru.com
It had been a hotly contested season. Higgins/Drew had piloted their 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally car to three victories and two 2nd-place finishes in the six events. “It’s amazing and hasn’t really sunk in yet,” explained Higgins at the podium celebration. “The level of competition was really fierce all year, and it was a big challenge for me to come back to the USA after seven years away and adjust to new events, a co-driver I had never worked with before, as well as a new car. But everything meshed really well and our Subaru STI was a joy to drive fast. Driving for Subaru is every rally driver’s dream, as the brand is so famous for rallying, so this is something really special for me.”
After a strong start, Mirra/Clarke ran a steady season with a 3rd-, 4th-, and 5th-place finish and one DNF (Oregon Trail Rally) when he was running in 2nd place in the championship. Due to a prior commitment, Mirra was unable to compete in the final rally of the season, so he had to be content with 4th-place overall in the drivers’ championship.