Bogie dominates Snowman Rallyposted in SRC18 | 02 | 2017
FORMER CHAMP DAVID BOGIE dominated the opening round of the ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship, today’s Inverness-based Snowman Rally.
The five-time Scottish champ from Dumfries, fastest through all five forest stages close to the Cairngorm National Park, powered his Skoda Fabia R5 (pictured above) to a comfortable 58-second win.
“It may look like a big gap, but that was hard work,” Bogie admitted after returning to rally HQ in Inverness. “We had to be on the pace right from the start, and basically keep our foot down right through the day.
"The plan was to come here and get some more time in the car so it's been a great rally for us. The pace has been good, the stages have been good and it makes such a difference when there's no snow and ice, they really do change in character.
“The stages up here are as good as any you'll get in the UK and to start the season with a win is hopefully a sign of things to come."
Former British champ Bogie, partnered by Jedburgh co-driver Kevin Rae, established a five-second lead over the Subaru Impreza of Oban’s Shaun Sinclair (pictured above) through the 5.38-mile second stage at Scotsburn.
After a series of fastest times, Bogie headed in to the final stage, the 10.74-miles at Raven Rock, having increased the gap to 42s. Sinclair held on to second place, 22s ahead of Euan Thorburn (pictured below).
The Duns-based driver — like Bogie using the Snowman as a warm-up ahead of the opening round of the British Championship, the Jedburgh-based Border Counties next month — gave his new Ford Fiesta R5 its first outing of the season.
“I’m happy with that,” former Scottish champ Thorburn smiled. "Our plan today was to build it up slowly and see where we got to at the end of the day, so we're happy enough to get some miles in the car.
“It was great to blow the cobwebs away, and now we’re ready to go head-to-head with David in the British Championship, starting in the Borders.”
Defending Scottish champ Jock Armstrong from Castle Douglas brought his Subaru home fourth, while last year’s Snowman winter, Invernessian Donnie MacDonald, was 10th in his new Ford Fiesta R5.
Related: 100 crews set to start Snowman Rally
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Jim McGill
Photos copyright of Lindsay Photo Sport