Bogie bids for Scottish doubleposted in SRC02 | 09 | 2010

DUMFRIES RALLY ace David Bogie goes into this weekend's penultimate round of the Hankook Scottish Rally Championship, the Wigtown-based Merrick Stages, within touching distance of clinching back-to-back titles. But the 23-year-old Scot, who knows a fourth-place finish at the end of the 45-mile event will seal the championship, is wary of the puncture threat which could deflate his title charge.

"Puntures are the big danger in the Merrick," Bogie, who will again drive his trusty Mitsubishi Evo IX and be co-driven by Hawick's Kevin Rae, explained. "The forest stages have aflint-type surface which you don't get in any other round of the Scottish.

"The opening stage is the 19-miler at Glentrool and, to be honest, if you get a puncture in the first 10 miles, you're rally's basically over. You've two choices; stop and change it, or carry on slowly. Either way you're going to drop heaps of time and you've no chance of winning."

But Bogie, who became the youngest winner of the Scottish Championship since Colin McRae when he sealed the title last year, won't be backing off.

"There's always a greater chance that you'll make a mistake if you're not full-on," he continued. "Slow down and your timing just goes out of the window. No; we'll be going as fast as we normally do, but I might not take quite so many chances. By my calculations, a top four will do the business. Then we can relax and enjoy the final round, the McRae in Perth."

One man though no doubt hoping Bogie hits trouble is Castle Douglas driver Jock Armstrong. Last year's Merrick winner and the top seed must win the last two rounds and rely on Bogie failing to score any points is he is to steal the championship.

"I'm going to be going for the win; that's all I can do," Armstrong, who will again drive his Subaru Impreza, said. "When you go into that first 19-miler, there's no messing. You've really got to get to grips with it, and get the feel straight away. I'll be on it right from the start."

With the re-location of the start/finish and rally headquarters to Wigtown, the route remains one of the most compact in the Scottish calendar. The 100-strong field will tackle five classic forest stages totalling 45 miles, with central servicing at Glencaird, close to Glentrool.

Merrick Stages: Top 10 seeds (Provisional)

1. Jock Armstrong (Castle Douglas) / Kirsty Riddick (Castle Douglas)Subaru Impreza

2. David Bogie (Dumfries) / Kevin Rae (Hawick) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX

3. Mike Faulkner (Kirtlebridge) / Peter Foy (Bingley) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo XI

4. Jonathan Greer (Belfast) / Dai Roberts (Belfast) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX

5. Shaun Sinclair (Oban) / Chris Hamill (Oban) Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX

6. Andy Horne (Inverness) / Jim Howie (Kilmarnock) Dam 4100GTI

7. Euan Thorburn (Duns) / Paul Beaton (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo IX

8 .Wayne Sisson (Burton In Kendal) / David MacFadyen (Inverness) Mitsubishi Evo IX

9. David Wright (Nr Lancaster) / Michael Wilkinson (Durham) Mitsubishi Evo IX

10. Alick Kerr (Bothwell) / Neil Shanks (Elgin) Subaru Impreza

JM