David Higgins wrapped up his 10th American Rally Association championship title in Pennsylvania at the weekend.

The Manxman finished second behind Subaru Motorsports USA team-mate Oliver Solberg to clinch his latest drivers crown.

Speaking after the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally, Higgins said: ’Such a great feeling to take the number 10.

’This weekend was very much a championship drive for us.

’Oliver had good pace and we knew we had a chance to lock up enough points to secure the title this weekend so made the choice to drive safely and get the job done.

’Now we can relax and go flat out at the last event next month, try to end the season on a high note.’

Solberg and Higgins swept all 15 stage wins and have now combined to win five of the last six ARA national events in their Subaru WRX STI rally cars.

With Susquehannock Trail moving from its usual June timing to a new date in mid-September, cool and damp weather conditions made for a very different rally from previous years.

Rain during the week turned the service area into ankle-deep mud and left the narrow, fast Pennsylvania roads slick and more dangerous than usual.

Oliver Solberg, still a few days shy of his 18th birthday, and returning co-driver Aaron Johnston attacked early on Friday, winning the first two stages to build a quick lead over Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew.

Solberg, son of former world champion Petter, would ultimately take eight of the first day’s stages to Higgins’s two as the veteran pursued a conservative strategy to protect his championship hopes.

Saturday’s stages continued the story of the event with more damp, foggy conditions and a continued push from Solberg and Johnston for stage wins.

The pair would again take the first two of the day before Higgins and Drew struck back with a win on stage 13.

A broken axle briefly left Solberg with only front-wheel drive on the next stage, but he was able to complete the stage and return to service with most of his lead intact.

After repairs, Solberg closed out the weekend with a win on the rally’s final stage to take the overall victory.

Higgins brought his WRX STI home in second, with the Ford of third-place finisher Barry McKenna more than 12 minutes further back.

Higgins and Solberg will go head-to-head in the final round of the ARA season at the Lake Superior Performance Rally, to be held in Houghton, Michigan over the weekend of October 18-19.