Veteran Gary Higgs claims elusive first WA Super Sedan Title with thrilling last-lap pass in Albany

The drought is over for Perth’s Gary Higgs after winning an epic 40-lap final of the WA Super Sedan Title at Attwell Park Speedway on Saturday night. After more than three decades of trying to win a State title, Higgs prevailed in a thrilling battle with Damon Trouchet during the concluding stages of a race that had plenty of drama. Trouchet, a Mt Barker Speedway Club member, started from pole position alongside Albany’s Jason Batchelor, who was driving a borrowed car and competing in super sedans for the first time. Former WA champion Warren Minshull and Higgs started from the second row while defending champion and Mt Barker’s Chris Pavlovich began from fifth position on the grid in the rescheduled 2019-20 State title. Without a lap being completed, the 17 starters in the final were reduced to 14 after Warren Minshull hit the wall and retired along with Kyle Larson and Steve Schofield. Trouchet led the field in the early stages before Kevin Bell spun and Pavlovich was deemed the cause and sent to the rear. Youngster Zac Minshull had elevated himself from position 11 and was up to fourth, dicing with the leading cars. After a stoppage on lap six Bell passed Trouchet before the cone on the restart and at the next stoppage, when Tristan Green hit the fence, Bell was relegated to the rear. Zac Minshull’s run came to an end on lap eight as Pavlovich and Bell stormed their way back through the field while Trouchet, Higgs and Batchelor battled out in front. Bell retired from the race on lap 23 but the contest between Trouchet, Higgs and Batchelor for the rest of the final was a cracker. Batchelor amazingly had the lead at one stage as he committed to driving the highline in a car that had a borrowed engine after blowing his initial motor in Friday night’s practice session but a deflated tyre ended Bat-chelor’s incredible run on lap 38. That left Trouchet and Higgs to fight out for the title, the pair swapping places a number of times in the final few laps. Higgs snatched the lead on the final lap and hung on desperately to claim his first State title, downing Trouchet by 0.422 seconds on the line. Mt Barker driver Rob Knox drove a terrific race to get third and stand on the podium for the first time in a State title while Pavlovich filled fourth place and Mt Barker’s Adam Campbell rounded out the top five. Higgs, who turns 60 next February, was elated to finally end his State title drought after being placed in the event on six occasions. “That was one of the hardest races I’ve had in my life,” Higgs said. “The car wasn’t friendly to me, it was hard work to drive but I just persevered with the bottom, stuck there and eventually made it work. “It was one hell of a race up the front there with Damo, I thought he’s not going to lie down. “I think a lot of people wrote me off but old grandad can still do it and I’ve still got a few miles left in me yet.” The event opened the new Albany season and was run in front of a strong crowd.