Higgs hunts for elusive State title

Veteran super sedan driver Gary Higgs is determined to finally end his State title drought at Albany’s Attwell Park Speedway on Saturday night as he heads a list of 21 entries for the 2017-18 decider.

Racing for more than a decade in the division, Higgs has finished on the podium at seven State titles but has not been able to claim a long-awaited crown despite his best efforts.

In the one-night title at a familiar Attwell Park on Saturday, Higgs will start as a warm favourite to score his maiden victory after dominating the class locally for the past couple of years and having already won three feature races this season.

Higgs secured his first podium finish at the event in 1994-95 in Collie when he was third behind Ben Ludlow and Tony Giancola, and since then, the experienced competitor has finished third on three other occasions and has been runner-up three times as well.

“I should have won 10 of them by now but you know what speedway is like — a 20¢ part can bring you undone,” Higgs said. “We’re pretty confident going in — the car is bulletproof at the moment and I’m fitter than I’ve ever been.

“We’ve done three shows in this car and had great speed and I’m just really keen to win one but you need a bit of Lady Luck on the way.”

Higgs was on the podium last time the title was held in Albany back in 2009-10 when Marc Gian-cola was successful and his most recent placing was 2013-14 in Manjimup when he came second to Kodee Brown. “I’d love to have WA No.1 on the side of the car, to take over for the Australian title,” the 56-year-old said. “I have my son Dustin doing the full-time crew on the car, which is great.

“I love the Albany track, have won 50-lappers and many feature races there, so I’ll be giving it my best shot.”

Reigning champion Matt Pascoe, of Queensland, will not defend his crown, while former winners Warren Minshull and Bert Vosbergen are among the field.

Mt Barker’s Chris Pavlovich looms as the strongest local hope in the event, which consists of six qualifying heats and a 35-lap final.