MacCrone targets Granite City Rally winposted in RSCOT24 | 04 | 2014
FIVE WEEKS AFTER winning on his first outing in his Castrol-backed Ford Fiesta R200, John MacCrone bids for back-to-back class victories in Saturday's Granite City Rally.
But the 24-year-old from the Isle of Mull heads to Aberdeen for the third round of the ARR Craib Scottish Rally Championship knowing he faces a stiff challenge.
"The stages on the Granite are renowned for being fast and demanding," MacCrone, who dominated the 2WD 1600cc Class in last month's Border Counties Rally, admitted today.
"It's going to be a bit of of steep learning curve to get used to the car on the fast N-east gravel stages, but I'm really looking forward to getting some more good mileage in the car."
MacCrone hasn't as much as sat in the Fiesta R200, built by Cockermouth-based M-Sport, since he finished the Border Rally.
Related: John MacCrone bags Class win on Castrol debut
And in addition to getting reacquainted with his Pirelli-shod car — prepared by Carlisle-based CA1 Sport, and which will again run in the famous Castrol colours — the talented young Scot has a new co-driver this weekend.
"I've got my uncle Peter (MacCrone) sitting next to me for the Granite, so we'll take a wee bit of time to get used to working with each other again," he continued.
"The last time we sat together in a rally car was in the 2011 Tunnock's Mull Rally, and we only managed one stage before the car broke down. Hopefully we'll last longer this weekend.
"The Fiesta R200 was brilliant in the Borders, and I've no doubt we'll have the same high level of grip and performance in the Granite.
"Peter and I have been out this week in a car on Mull just getting used to each other again, so we'll be fine in Aberdeen.
"Our primary target is to win our class again, and we'll be doing everything we can together to ensure we achieve our objective.
"And once again it's going to be exciting to work with the team from M-Sport in helping to further develop the car, which they see as an important clubman car for 2014 and '15."
Related: Tunnock's Mull Rally reveals 2014 timetable
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Jim McGill
Photo: John MacCrone drives the Castrol-liveried, M-Sport Ford Fiesta R200 through the snow-covered stages of the Border Counties Rally. Pic by LindsayPhotoSport