Jock Armstrong is aiming for his first ever win on the McDonald and Munro Speyside Stages on Saturday.
The Castle Douglas driver has never won the Elgin-based event and is hoping to put that right in his Subaru Impreza which will be co-driven by Cameron Fair.
But the pair will face stiff competition on the latest round of the KNC Groundworks Scottish Rally Championship from David Bogie.
The five-times champ heads the entry list as he bids for his 10th victory on the event, John Rowan joining him in his Skoda Fabia R5.
Castle Douglas rally driver Jock Armstrong finishes fifth on Border Counties Rally
Dalbeattie’s Iain Wilson starts as favourite in the Scottish Two-Wheel Drive Championship with Chris Williams on the notes in his Ford Escort Mk2.
He faces competition in class eight from Dumfries’ Mark McCulloch who is out with Michael Hendry in a BMW E30.
Niall Cowan Jr of Dumfries and Thomas Bruce kicked off the year by winning the junior class in the opening round, the Border Counties Rally. They’ll be hoping for a repeat success with Castle Douglas’ Scott Peacock and Haugh of Urr’s Robin Neill hoping to stop them in their similar MG ZR.
And in class six, Solway Car Club’s Callum Shanks is co-driving Kevin Gray’s Suzuki Swift.
The event kicks off with two spectator specials in Elgin’s Cooper Park before eight forest stages.
