Higgins-Drew NEFR
David Higgins and Craig Drew finished the 2015 Rally America championship series with a sweep, something not achieved in the United States since 1987 by John Buffum – who perhaps no so coincidentally happens to be the team manager. Taking place over two days in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the fifteen stage Lake Superior Performance Rally was the eighth and final championship rally of the year, and proved to be historic for the jubilant Subaru Rally Team. They won all but two stages of the rally.
Higgins-Drew NEFR
Other teams such as Ken Block / Alex Gelsomino, Nick Roberts / Rhianon Gelsomino, and Subaru teammate Travis Pastrana / Chrissie Beavis who would have given tough competition to the duo were conspicuously absent from the rally. Yoopers Adam Yeoman and Jordan Schule – formidable challengers regardless, having placed second overall at STPR – were on home territory, winning two stages over Higgins / Drew. They finished 1:51.3 behind Higgins and Drew, with Lauchlin O’Sullivan and co-driver Scott Putnam in third for an all-Subaru podium.
Higgins makes rally driving look so easy that I almost believe I could do it. And let me tell you, I’d love to try – it looks fun as hell.
I have to say, it’s pretty amazing watching him at a rally. For a split second, that is! His speed can be terrifying when you’re that close, and cool to see how technical he is to conserve every second. Then Ken Block comes by catching air, spraying dirt like nobody’s business – two completely different styles and both get to the podium.
Drifting around in a rally car is definitely on my bucket list. The closest I’ve gotten to that was drifting around an icy parking lot with the handbrake in my ’89 Beretta.
Being a teenager was fun.