Bogie wins: MacCrone takes 2WDposted in RSCOT22 | 03 | 2014

    FIVE-TIME SCOTTISH rally champ, David Bogie, kickstarted his 2014 campaign by dominating the Jedburgh-based Border Counties Rally (read full report & quotes from Border Counties Rally).

    The 26-year-old from Dumfries — fourth in last month's opening round of the championship, the Snowman Rally in Inverness, when his Ford Focus World Rally Car suffered a puncture — was again in imperious form.

    Co-driven by Hawick's Kevin Rae, Bogie (pictured) was fastest through the four opening stages in the snow-covered Kielder Forest.

    "That was a tough day at the office," Bogie, who backed off through the final 9.6-mile stage to win by 47secs ahead of the Focus WRC of Bishop Auckland's Steve Petch, admitted after arriving back at the Jedburgh rally HQ today.

    "In the end we had quite a healthy gap back to Steve, but the conditions in the stages were treacherous today.

    Related: John MacCrone links with Castrol and M-Sport

    "The fresh lying snow made judging the braking distances very, very difficult and it was difficult just to keep the car on the road.

    "After the disappointment of the Snowman, to get back on to the top step of the podium really gives our championship hopes a major boost."

    Last year's Borders winner, Aberdeen's Quintin Milne, finished fifth in his Mitsubishi Evo IX, while Snowman winner, Euan Thorburn from Duns, brought his Focus WRC home in third, four seconds behind Petch.

    There was also a winning debut for 24-year-old John MacCrone. The Isle of Mull youngster, driving his new Castrol-backed M-Sport Ford Fiesta R200, won the two-wheel drive 1600cc class.

    "It's always great to win, but to win first time out in what is a brand new car for me, and in those tricky snowy conditions with only two-wheel drive, is a big positive for me," MacCrone, co-driven by Uddingston's Stuart Loudon, said.

    Related: Euan Thorburn wins Snowman Rally

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    Jim McGill

    Photo: Copyright LindsayPhotoSport

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