Round 7: Merrick Stages, 6 September

Borderer Euan Thorburn boosted his title hopes with a second successive victory on Saturday's GWF Energy Merrick Stages.

The Duns-based competitor – driving a Ford Focus WRC – led from start to finish alongside co-driver Paul Beaton to complete the six forest stages in a total time of 40 minutes 38 seconds – 35 seconds ahead of Mike Faulkner and Peter Foy in a Mitsubishi EVO 9.

Thorburn's main rival and defending champion David Bogie secured the final podium spot, after his Ford Fiesta R5+ picked up a front-left puncture on the second stage, with the flailing tyre wrecking the wheel-arch.

Results1 Euan Thorburn / Paul Beaton (Ford Focus WRC) 40m38s2 Mike Faulkner / Peter Foy (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 41m13s3 David Bogie / Kevin Rae (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 41m15s

Provisional championship standings1 Euan Thorburn – 174 points2 David Bogie – 1433 Jock Armstrong – 135 4 Mike Faulkner – 134