ARR Craib MSA Scottish Rally Championship Round 1: Arnold Clark Thistle Hotel Snowman Rally, 22 February

Euan Thorburn clinched what he described as one of his hardest ever wins on Saturday's season-opening Snowman Rally in Inverness.

The Duns-based driver steered his Ford Focus WRC to victory, finishing 34 seconds ahead of Quintin Milne in a Mitsubishi EVO 9. Mike Faulkner, also in an EVO, clinched the final podium spot, a further three seconds back.

Defending five-time champion David Bogie had to settle for fourth in his Focus after losing more than a minute and a half with a front puncture on the third of five special forest stages.

Results1 Euan Thorburn / Paul Beaton (Ford Focus WRC) 44mins29secs2 Quintin Milne / Martin Forrest (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 45m03s3 Mike Faulkner / Peter Foy (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 45m06s

Provisional championship standings1 Euan Thorburn –30 points2 Quintin Milne – 283 Mike Faulkner – 274 David Bogie – 265 Barry Groundwater – 25