Just three points separate Jock Armstrong and David Bogie at the top of the Hankook MSA Scottish Rally Championship going into this Saturday's RSAC Scottish Rally in Dumfries.

Both drivers are aiming for victory on their home event which, in line with the four previous SRC rounds this year, has attracted a bumper entry of around 130 cars.

On last month's Jim Clark Reivers, Bogie turned in a near perfect display of controlled driving in his Mitsubishi Evo 9 to take maximum points and become the fourth different winner in as many rounds.

Armstrong, meanwhile, endured a difficult day on the tarmac at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza N11 - due mainly to problems with the car's ECU - but still managed to finish sixth overall and fifth in the points.

In so doing, the Castle Douglas competitor kept his nose in front in both the overall drivers' standings and Group N.

Similiarly, his navigator Kirsty Riddick - the reigning Scottish Co-drivers' Champion – leads by three points from Bogie's notes-man Kevin Rae.

The significance of the 'Scottish' is not lost on either crew, heralding as it does the start of the second half of the season.

“I think the Championship will turn at this point for a lot of people, and we all need a win, so the pace will be fantastic,” said Armstrong. “This home event has always been good to me, so bring it on I say.”

Bogie is equally upbeat: “The win on the Jim Clark was very important for our campaign, and the aim is to carry it through and take maximum points on the Scottish, and, hopefully, emerge as championship leaders. We're confident.”

However, with only 12 points separating third-placed Willie Bonniwell from Rory Young in tenth, there will be a number of challengers aiming for top honours, among them 2008 champion Jimmy Girvan.