Bogie bids to win Scottish Rallyposted in BRC25 | 06 | 2016
FIVE-TIME SCOTTISH champ David Bogie bids to boost his British Rally Championship (BRC) hopes today when he tackles his home event, the Scottish Rally.
The 28-year old Dumfries driver, who has already scored two podiums in the opening BTRC rounds, is hoping his local knowledge pays dividends.
The eight-stage, 62-mile event will be fought over the fast and challenging forests around Dumfries. And such is Bogie’s confidence, he has played his BRC ‘joker’ on the event, which double the points he scores.
For the Scot, the event is crucial. His two main title rivals, Swede Fredrik Ahlin and Welshman Elfyn Evans, have both won their ‘joker’ rounds, each resulting in a 50-point haul instead of 25.
“The aim is to win the Scottish Rally,” 2011 British champ Bogie, co-driven by Hawick’s Kevin Rae, and who will will debut his striking new orange colour scheme and Cagemax sponsored Skoda Fabia R5, said yesterday.
Related: Bogie bags podium in Ireland
“Elfyn and Fredrik have already doubled their points by winning with their ‘joker’, so it’s crucial I do the same on my home event.
“I’m certainly feeling confident and relaxed, and we’ll head to the Scottish Rally off the back of winning the Donegal National Rally, which was a long three-day event which kept me match fit.
“Dumfries is my home town,” Bogie, who has won the Scottish Rally three times, continued, “and the stages are only 20 to 30 miles away from my house, and even though there have been some new bits added to the route, I know the stages reasonably well.”
Fellow Scottish stars Euan Thorburn (Peugeot 208 T16), and 26-year old Carnoustie driver Alex Laffey (Ford Fiesta R5), will also be hoping for a strong showing on home soil.
Thorburn bagged a top five on the opening round, but ever since has been dogged by unreliability. The Duns driver is hoping the Scottish marks a positive turn in fortune.
Tarmac ace Laffey meanwhile has been building his experience and speed throughout the season and will use the Scottish to get further miles under his belt for a push on his preferred surface in the latter part of the campaign.
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Jim McGill