Higgins breaks Isle of Man car lap record

Big news from the Isle of Man: tank-slapping internet sensation Subaru driver Mark Higgins has just smashed his own record for a production car lap of the 37.3-mile TT course.

Higgins hauled the US-spec 2015 WRX STI around the island in 19m 26s - 11 seconds faster than his previous best time set in 2011. His average speed was 116.40mph.

But Higgins admitted his lap - like his Code Brown effort three years ago - was far from perfect. ‘I overshot Signpost [corner] ran out of brakes and had to use the e-brake to get round - so good job we hadn't disconnected that!' Higgins told Top Gear.

Without that mistake - and a couple of gremlins in the traction control software - Higgins reckons he can go a whole chunk faster next time out.

‘I think there's another good 15-20 seconds to be made up. We can definitely go even faster,' he said.

Higgins won't have to wait long before testing his theory. He is scheduled to run another lap this Friday.

TG is trackside at the IoM, so stand by for more news on that as it happens.