Bogie clinches Scots rally hat-trickposted in RSCOT06 | 08 | 2011

SCOTLAND'S MOST TALENTED young rally ace David Bogie further enhanced his reputation by clinching his third successive Scottish Rally Championship title today.

The 23-year-old from Dumfries sealed the championship by winning the Elgin-based Speyside Rally. Bogie, who also leads the British Rally Championship, dominated the Highland event to win it for the fourth year in a  row.

The youngster eased off through the final stage to win comfortably by 37 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi of Euan Thorburn from Duns. Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge) was third in another Mitsubishi.

"This is just an awesome achievement," Bogie, partnered by his Hawick-based co-driver Kevin Rae and who strung together four-fastest times through the middle for stages of the rally in their Mitsubishi Evo IX, admitted.

"We came here desperately trying not to think of the championship and concentrated purely on winning the rally. We knew if we did that, the title would take care of itself.

"The stages were brilliant today and we got ourselves into a great rhythm early on which allowed us to open up a significant advantage. After that we were able to take it easy through the last two stages, which was just as well because the final one was really tough.

"But this is a massive result for us. To be honest, it hasn't quite sunk in yet. I guess it will take a couple of days to realise our achievements, and it will certainly allow me to concentrate on the British title now."

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Jim McGill