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LinksSpeyside Stages - 6 Aug 11
Posted: August 9, 2011 4:29 PM - 4653 Hits
Round 6 - 2011 Scottish Rally Championship
- BOGIE/RAE NAIL THIRD SCOTTISH TITLE ON SPEYSIDE
- Full Results
- BOGIE TARGETS FOURTH SPEYSIDE WIN
- Seeded Entry List
- Hatrick Hero chases down fourth!
- Regulations / Details
BOGIE/RAE NAIL THIRD SCOTTISH TITLE ON SPEYSIDE
Posted: August 9, 2011 4:29 PM
David Bogie and co-driver Kevin Rae sealed their third straight MSA Scottish Rally Championship with a fourth consecutive victory on the Gleaner Oil and Gas Speyside Stages.
The winning partnership finished more than half a minute ahead of the rest of the field to cap a notable 2011 championship campaign with two rounds remaining.
Behind them, Euan Thorburn and Mike Faulkner slugged it out in a gripping fight for the remaining podium places.
They shared equal times on three of the eight Morayshire stages, but it was Thorburn, co-driven by Paul Beaton, who emerged as runner-up after Faulkner overshot on the final test.
Bogie, who was fastest through four of the stages, finished with a total time of 43 minutes 42 seconds – 37 seconds ahead of Thorburn, with Faulkner a further 14 seconds adrift.
The Dumfries triple champion was clearly delighted – and relieved – as he sprayed the champagne at the finish outside Elgin town hall.
"It's just awesome and hard to sum up really, said Bogie:
" I never thought too much about the championship. We just came here to win the rally, and to be honest, all season I've never given it much thought. We just went to each round to do the best job we could. But to come away with a win and take the championship, well, it's going to take time to sink in. It also makes things easier going to the next round of the British Championship, so that's really good".
Co-driver Rae from Hawick said he was "chuffed to bits" with the result:
"Everything has gone so well on this event. They were great stages – we just eased off a wee bit towards the finish once we knew we were OK.. We've been thoroughly enjoying our rallying all season and even with the pressure today it's been enjoyable. It's another one ticked off, so we can now concentrate on the British championship".
As is traditional on the Speyside, the event got underway with two blasts through the special spectator stage at Cooper Park in the centre of Elgin.
Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick took top honours in their Subaru Impreza, resulting in the Castle Douglas pair being a second up on the Evo 9 of Northern Ireland''s Phillip Morrow going into the first 2.79 mile forest stage, Rosarie.
Bogie pipped Armstrong by a second to take the stage win but the Impreza pilot, winner of the RSAC Scottish Rally in June, still had a three second advantage overall over his younger rival.
However, the challenge was short-lived when, on SS4 Craigend Hill, the Subaru clipped a culvert, span round and ended up on its side – resulting in what Armstrong described as "pretty brutal damage when you add it all up".
While Bogie consolidated his lead with two successive quickest times – on Craigend, and the 5 miles of Gartly Moor ("that was an awesome stage!") - a battle royale was developing between Thorburn and Faulkner.
They posted equal times behind Bogie on Gartly Moor, and again on the eight and a half miles of Balloch Wood, before sharing top honours – one second quicker than Bogie - on the penultimate test, Backstripes.
"It's been a really hard battle with Mike all day – I couldn't believe how close it was", said Thorburn who also pipped Bogie by two seconds on the final stage: "It was a shame the two of us couldn't have carried it on until the end, but Mike lost time with an overshoot – it was a difficult last stage with all the chicanes. We came to win the event, but we're pleased with second".
Faulkner, co-driven by Louise Sutherland in place of the holidaying Peter Foy, also enjoyed the tussle:
"It was a case of staying with Euan and matching him on stage times. When we got to the last stage we both had to go for it. The surface was really muddy and grassy and I was losing traction and tried to make it up on braking and ended up overshooting. I've had some close battles over the years, but three stage times on the trot with the same person is something special".
Emerging from Cooper Park eighth overall in their Mitsubishi Evo 9, Lanark's Robbie Head and navigator Claire Mole from Paxton had moved into fifth at the end of the first forest test and were up to fourth on the completion of Gartly Moor.
They held station through the remaining three stages, posting the third quickest time on the final test, two seconds shy of second-placed Bogie.
Inverurie's Calum Mackenzie justified his late entry to the event with a fine fifth overall at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 8. Co-driven by Alan Clark, it was Mackenzie's best SRC result in the 4-wheel drive car, following a switch from his more familiar Escort Mk2.
Fellow Aberdeenshire-based competitor Barry Groundwater, with Daniel Paterson on the notes, bettered his 2010 Speyside result by one place to finish sixth overall, two seconds adrift of Mackenzie.
Stephen and Kevin Lockhart from Oban were a further eight seconds back in their Evo 7 – posting their third and best Scottish Championship top ten finish of the season, following two ninth places on the Border Counties and Jim Clark Reivers.
County Durham's Tristan Pye, with three-times Scottish Co-drivers' champion Stewart Merry on the notes, was eighth in his self-prepared Subaru Impreza N15, while Invernessian Donnie Macdonald – sixth in the points going into the Speyside – was well satisfied with his second successive ninth-place overall alongside Keir Beaton.
It was also a case of deja vu for Chris Collie and Lisa Watson with the pair recording their second consecutive tenth place finish in their Subaru Impreza – the only difference being that the gap to Macdonald had increased to 4 seconds from the 1.5 seconds on the RSAC Scottish!
The battle for 2-wheel drive supremacy, and 1600 category honours, was won by Graeme Smith in a Honda Civic after a day spent trading times with fellow Lanarkshire competitor and Civic pilot Graeme Schoneville.
Co-driven by Stuart Loudon, Smith was trailing Schoneville by six seconds after the first short forest stage, but kept the pressure on and had a two second advantage overall on the completion of SS5 Gartly Moor. Schoneville and navigator Michael Hendry were back in front at the end of SS6 Balloch Wood, but lost time on the penultimate test with Smith and Loudon eventually winning the dog-fight by nine seconds.
Banchory's Quintin Milne and Aberdeen-based co-driver Martin Forrest led home the Escort Mk2 contingent, with Thornhill's Liam Harkness and Kenneth Marchbank second.
Following three previous retirements this season, Sean and Iain Robson from St Boswells were delighted with their Class 3 win in their Peugeot 205 Gti. They took the honours after husband and wife Tom and Sue Hynd, who led the class for much of the day, crashed out heavily in their 205 on the penultimate stage.
Among the notable retirements were Andy Horne/Jim Howie who were forced to call it a day on stage four when their DAM 4100GTi developed mechanical problems, and Reay Mackay and Robert Macdonald, who were running as high as fourth overall in their Subaru Impreza WRC before it developed a gearbox fault.
There were 69 classified finishers from a start list of 101 cars.
The seventh and penultimate round of the MSA Scottish Rally Championship is the ProTune Remapping Merrick Stages – based in Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway – on Saturday, September 3rd.
BOGIE TARGETS FOURTH SPEYSIDE WIN
Posted: August 2, 2011 2:56 PM
Defending Scottish champions David Bogie and navigator Kevin Rae head a field of around a hundred crews for next Saturday's Gleaner Oil & Gas Speyside Stages – an event they have won for the past three years.
The duo have an eleven point lead in the drivers' and co-drivers' standings respectively going into the Elgin-based event, as they look to seal their third straight MSA Scottish Rally Championship with three rounds remaining.
"We've reached an important point in the season and the plan is to go to Elgin and come away with another win, which could secure us the title, depending on the results of others", said Bogie, who will be at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9: "It's another very strong field so nothing can be taken for granted, but we feel up to the challenge".
He went on:
"The stages around Elgin and Huntly are tricky in that they can be quite slippy and loose in places – but it's also a high speed rally, so you need to be absolutely sure of your braking points. Late braking is rewarded with good stage times".
As in previous years, competitors will again have two blasts through the special spectator stage in Elgin's Cooper Park before heading out to the forests.
Bogie will be followed off the start-line by last year's runners-up Jock Armstrong and Kirsty Riddick in a Subaru Impreza.
The Castle Douglas duo triumphed on the last round, the RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries, and Armstrong is keen to keep up the momentum.
"We've had mixed results so far this season and the win on the Scottish really gave us a boost", said Armstrong, who currently sits fifth in the standings – thirty-eight points adrift of Bogie: "We'll be looking to push again on the Speyside after finishing second last year, so we'll see what happens".
Third seed Euan Thorburn was hit by problems on last year's Speyside but has had a consistent season so far in 2011. He has been runner-up twice, and has also posted a third, a fourth and a sixth place finish at the wheel of his Mitsubishi Evo 9. The Duns competitor will again be co-driven by Paul Beaton from Inverness.
Mike Faulkner sits second in the overall drivers' standings – one point ahead of Thorburn – and will be looking to put pressure on the leading pair.
"Whatever the points permutations with regard to dropped rounds, we'll just concentrate on trying to win the event and the rest will take care of itself", said Faulkner, who will be co-driven by Louise Sutherland in place of regular navigator Peter Foy, who is on holiday in Australia: "The Speyside is a very enjoyable event with a great mix of stages from the tarmac of Cooper Park to loose and technical sections, but there are also some very fast and committed ones. There's certainly no margin for error".
Andy Horne – winner of the Speyside in 1998 - was well pleased with his fifth place finish on the "Scottish" and will be looking for an equally strong result this coming weekend in his DAM 4100GTi, alongside Jim Howie.
Twelve months ago, the pair were lying second overall – 23 seconds adrift of Bogie and Rae – going into the penultimate Clashindarroch stage but were forced to retire with mechanical problems.
Ex-works driver Robbie Head currently sits fourth in the overall standings in his DMACK Tyres/Station Garage Mitsubishi Evo 9. A problematical day on the Scottish, which started with fuel pressure problems, resulted in his first finish outside the top ten since returning to regular competition at the start of the season. The Lanark-based driver will again have Borderer Claire Mole on the notes.
Another former BRC works driver, Phillip Morrow, makes a welcome return to the Scottish championship, and, although not eligibile for SRC points, will be one to watch in the fight for top honours on the day
The Northern Ireland ace will have brother Simon in the navigator's seat for their second competitive outing on an SRC event this season. In March they picked up a class award on the Border Counties after making a last minute switch from their more familiar Evo 9 to a hired Ford Escort.
Donnie Macdonald, co-driven by fellow Invernessian Keir Beaton, finished ninth overall on the Scottish in his Evo 9 to consolidate sixth place in the drivers' standings.
The pair start eighth in Elgin, one ahead of Stonehaven's Barry Groundwater and Daniel Paterson, also in an Evo 9, who will be targeting another strong result after a seventh overall on the Speyside in 2010.
The top ten seeds are rounded off by Reay Mackay and Robert MacDonald from Fort Augustus in a Subaru Impreza WRC. Their last SRC outing was on the Granite City in April when they were forced to retire with brake problems.
The leading 2-wheel drive crew on the Speyside entry list are Banchory's Quintin Milne and highly-experienced navigator Martin Forrest from Aberdeen in a Ford Escort Mk2.
Suspension problems ended their "Scottish" challenge on the opening stage but they preceded that with a fine eleventh overall on the Jim Clark Reivers tarmac round.
As always, the Class 4 1600 category looks certain to throw up an intriguing battle - with the Honda Civics of John MacCrone and Graeme Schoneville up against the Vauxhall Corsa of Alasdair Graham, who, despite gearbox problems, took his third class win of the season in Dumfries. Jim Robertson, driving a Citreon C2R2, still leads the overall standings by three points from Graham after five rounds.
In Class 3, Tom and Sue Hynd will be targeting their third consecutive win in their Peugeot 205 Gti, while Alex Pirie from Keith and Huntly navigator David Law will be aiming to continue their domination of Class 2 in their Vauxhall Corsa.
As well as the two Cooper Park stages, competitors will tackle six tests in the forests around Elgin and Huntly, namely: Rosarie, Craigend Hill, Gartly Moor, Balloch, Backstripes and Monaughty. There will be two service stops at Huntly Auction Mart in the course of the day.
Hatrick Hero chases down fourth!
Posted: July 13, 2011 4:01 PM
Just under 12 months ago, reigning MSA Scottish Rally Champion David Bogie arrived in Elgin with one thing on his mind, victory. After 45 miles in some of the North East’s finest stages Bogie clinched his third Speyside win – beating runner up Jock Armstrong by 50 seconds. Not only did this put Bogie in a good position for his Second Scottish title, it also made the Dumfries youngster the first driver ever to clinch a Hatrick of Speyside Victories in the events short 15 year history.
As the MSA Scottish Rally Championship scene rolls into Elgin, much of the same is anticipated with Bogie looking to add yet more victories to his Speyside tally and increase his lead in his hunt for his Scottish Rally Championship treble! However the event will too be vital for the title aspirations of the 5 drivers still in contention for the Scottish Championship crown, with only 2 events remaining after the ‘Speyside’, a closely contested encounter for event honours is anticipated.
With little more than three weeks until the event kicks off on the 6th of August, ‘The 63 Car Club (Elgin)’ are flat out preparing for the 15th Speyside Stages Rally with over 100 crews expected to take to the start line.
The event, which has won the accolade of best event in the Championship five times in its short history, will once again be sponsored by ‘Gleaner Oil and Gas’ for the 7th year running.
With entry numbers remaining high throughout, Scotland’s competition will once again be closely cut as crew’s battle it out over six of Scotland’s finest forest rally stages to the east of Elgin. Before they head out into the forests however, the crews will once again have to negotiate the tricky and highly popular Cooper Park stages. This stage gives the chance for many families to view some of Scotland’s best rally drivers right in the centre of Elgin and without travelling far into the forests. The short ‘blasts’ around the Park still remain as well-liked with spectators and competitors 13 years after first introduced!
With entry levels still reaching all time highs in Scotland, competition will be as tough as ever come the ‘Speyside’. Reigning Scottish Rally Champion David Bogie looks to add another ‘Speyside’ Trophy to his mantelpiece but numerous other drivers will be out to try and put a spanner in the works for the Mitsubishi driver. Jock Armstrong, David Wilson, Euan Thorburn, Mike Faulkner, Robbie Head and Andy Horne all have their sights set on the champagne come August.
Not only will it be close at the top as crews battle for overall victory, the class battles throughout the field will be just as spectacular. A wide range of cars ranging from top-spec Subaru Impreza’s and Mitsubishi Lancer EVO’s will be joined by the high revving Honda Civics, Spectator favourites the Ford Escort and Metro 6r4 to name a few!
The event – based in Elgin’s Town Hall – will start with Safety Scruitneering from 6pm at Macrae and Dick, Elgin on Friday the 5th of August before the rally blasts into action from 9.30am at the Cooper Park on August the 6th. Programmes for the event can be purchased locally in Elgin from the 4th of August, and the event website will have details of where you can pick one up.
Rally fans can get more information on the event online at
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