Bogie wins Speyside Stagesposted in RSCOT02 | 08 | 2014

FIVE-TIMES SCOTTISH rally champ David Bogie maintained his fightback in the current campaign by winning the latest round, today's Speyside Stages in Elgin.

But the 26-year-old from Dumfries, driving his Ford Fiesta R5+ for only the second time in the Scottish and co-driven by Hawick's Kevin Rae, was made to fight all the way by current championship leader Euan Thorburn.

After five of the eight forest stages, both drivers were tied for the lead. But on stage six, the 5.33-miler at Balloch, the Duns driver, piloting his Ford Focus World Rally Car, established a three-second lead.

Any hopes he had though of clinching his third win of the year disappeared when his car suffered a puncture midway through the next stage, the six-miles at Ben Aigan.

The delay cost the unlucky driver 14secs, and allowed Bogie to open an 11s lead. The defending champ increased that to 13s by winning the final stage.

"That was really close," Bogie, now 28 points behind Thorburn in the title race, admitted after sealing his sixth Speyside win, and his third victory of the season.

"The puncture was a real shame for Euan, because we were having a great battle right through the day: the pace was really hot right from the start.

"This win was really crucial for us because it keeps us right in the fight. We've three rounds left, and realistically I probably need to win all three to have any hope of winning the championship."

The final podium place went to Jock Armstrong. The Castle Douglas driver, piloting his Subaru Impreza, was 92s adrift of Thorburn.

Related: David Bogie wins Scottish Rally

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Jim McGill

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