Newly-crowned Scottish national rally champion David Bogie and this year's Intercontinental Rally Challenge title-winner Kris Meeke launched the inaugural Rally of Scotland with relish as they looked towards the event which kicks off on November 19.

"This is a brilliant way to end the season for us," said Bogie. "The stages are spectacular, challenging and exciting for fans and competitors. I will be trying my hardest to give Kris and the IRC regulars a good run, and to do the best that I can on such a high profile event."

British national champion, Irishman Keith Cronin, and former British and Asia-Pacific champion Alister McRae are among those who will be lining up to take a shot at glory. It is a daunting array of talent for Peugeot UK's champion Kris Meeke, who says he is feeling as much pressure to do well in Scotland as he felt in this year's IRC title battle.

"The title is won but I have a tremendous amount still to fight for here in Scotland on many levels," said Meeke. "For my season, victory here would make my total score 66 from a possible 70 points - and in a driver's career there aren't many opportunities to put up a record like that.

"But this is a very special event," he added. "Scotland has been like a home to me for many years.

"As those in the sport know, my early career was mentored by Colin McRae and I really was taken into the family fold," Meeke related. "I lived here in Scotland when I was starting out and for me this is very much a homecoming event.

"Doing well here would be the absolute pinnacle of the year but it's not going to be easy and I'm looking forward to a terrific battle with so many top drivers."