Thorburn clinches Scottish titleposted in RSCOT04 | 10 | 2014
DUNS RALLY ACE Euan Thorburn clinched the Scottish Rally Championship for the first time today when he powered to victory in the Colin McRae Forest Stages.
Thorburn's win, behind the wheel of his Ford Focus World Rally car, ends the five-year reign of closest rival and nemesis, David Bogie.
The Dumfries driver knew he needed to win today's penultimate round to take the championship to a final decider later this month.
But hard as he pushed, Bogie eventually slithered off on the final stage, the 10.8-miler at Craigvinean, after his Ford Fiesta R5+ suffered a bent steering arm.
"I can't believe it," a delighted Thorburn (pictured), who has now won four rounds of this year's championship, and now can not be overhauled, beamed back at rally HQ in Perth.
"It's been a real ding-dong battle with David all year, and it's a pity his rally ended with technical problems.
"But I'm chuffed to bits. Finally, after all these years battling at the front, and winning rallies, I can call myself Scottish champion.
"To seal it on the Colin McRae Rally: well that's just a dream."
And the first man to congratulate him was five-time champ, Bogie, who had trailed by just two seconds entering the final stage.
"Euan thoroughly deserves it because he's been the man to beat all season," Bogie said. "Sure I'd love to have taken the battle right to the wire in the season finale, but it wasn't to be. I can only congratulate Euan."
After Bogie's problems on the final stage, Thorburn — co-driven by Paul Beaton — eventually cruised to a 2min 01sec victory ahead the Mitsubishi of Mike Faulkner. Castle Douglas's Jock Armstrong was third in his Subaru.
Mull's John MacCrone, winner of last year's Tunnock's Mull Rally — and who will drive a Ford Fiesta R200 in the defence of his title next weekend (Oct 10-12) — was forced to retire his Tunnock's-liveried Fiesta R5 with broken steering on stage two after being fifth-quickest on the opener.
Related: Thorburn wins Merrick Stages Rally
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Jim McGill