MacCrone's Jim Clark green lightposted in RSCOT30 | 05 | 2014

    SCOTLAND'S JOHN MacCRONE will contest this weekend's Jim Clark International Rally, but only after he was given the green light following the late completion of repairs to his Castrol-liveried M-Sport Ford Fiesta R200.

    The 24-year-old from the Isle of Mull — who earlier this season dominated his 1600cc 2WD class in the Border Counties and Granite City rallies, both counters in the Scottish Rally Championship — was forced to retire the Fiesta last time out.

    "At the Manx National Rally on the Isle of Man a fortnight ago, we were again leading our class and eyeing a top 10 finish overall when we suffered problems with the engine and had to retire," MacCrone (pictured in action on the Manx) explained today.

    "The guys have been working on the engine since then and we only got the all-clear on Tuesday that we could run in the Jim Clark.

    Related: John MacCrone denied Manx top 10

    "We know the pace the Fiesta has, and again I've got to thank everyone at M-Sport in Cockermouth, and CA1 Sport in Carlisle, for working so hard to get me on to the start ramp.

    "Matching the pace of the two top seeds, Osian Pryce and Daniel McKenna, will be tough, but I've a good knowledge of the Tarmac conditions on the Jim Clark, so hopefully we can put together another strong performance."

    MacCrone will show his growing versatility, maturity and experience when he sits beside his fourth co-driver of the year, Manxman Robert Fagg.

    All the crews will complete two runs of a 1.2-mile spectator special stage in Duns town centre on Friday evening before heading off to tackle another seven much longer, daunting stages — including two runs through the famous Abbey St Bathans — as darkness falls, before an overnight halt.

    Saturday sees the drivers tackle another 10 blisteringly fast stages, before the crews who have survived the 197.6 stages miles head for the finish and the podium ceremony in Kelso Town Square.

    Related: MacCrone dominates 2WD in Granite

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    Jim McGill

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