Round 1: Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally, 18 February

David Bogie and Kevin Rae got their title defence off to the best possible start by winning Saturday’s Snowman Rally in Inverness.

Bogie powered his Mitsubishi EVO 9 through the six special stages more than a minute quicker than runners-up Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy in an EVO 6. Carlisle's Peter Taylor, with Andrew Roughead on the notes, was third in a Ford Focus WRC, a further 1 minute 35 seconds adrift.

"We're both obviously delighted,” said Bogie. “You can't kick off your season with anything better than a win. However, the conditions were really difficult – some of the toughest I've ever had to drive in. Everyone who got round this rally deserves a medal because you could get caught out so quickly."

Results1 David Bogie / Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 50m03s2 Mike Faulkner / Peter Foy (Mitsubishi EVO 6) 51m11s3 Peter Taylor / Andrew Roughead (Ford Focus WRC) 52m46s

Championship positions (provisional)after Round 11 David Bogie – 30 points2 Mike Faulkner – 283 Peter Taylor – 274 Rory Young – 265 John McClory – 25