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Palletforce’s commitment to ‘work with the best’ applies to every strand of our business – and we are delighted to be the official sponsors for some of the UK’s elite motor sport drivers.

Look out for world-class driver John MacCrone, tipped as a future champion, who is taking part in the 2012 British Rally Championship in his Palletforce-emblazoned Ford Fiesta R2 with co-driver Stuart Loudon.

To follow their fortunes this season – see our rally team news section.

“Palletforce’s commitment to ‘work with the best’ applies to every strand of our business.”

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YOUNG SCOTS RALLY ACE JOHN MacCRONE SIGNS OFF WITH FAST TIMES IN PORTUGAL

Scotland's rising young rally star, John MacCrone, threw off the disappointment of the opening day to post fourth-fastest times in the final two stages of the WRC Academy in Portugal.

The 22-year-old from the Isle of Mull received a 15 minute penalty after an incident on the opening gravel stage on Thursday evening.

But the Scot, making his debut in the WRC Academy driving his Palletforce and Tunnocks-backed Rally Team Scotland Ford Fiesta, was delighted with his performance today.

"This was a real baptism of fire," MacCrone, co-driven by Glasgow's Stuart Loudon, admitted. "We made one very, very small mistake on Thursday night, and that cost us big time."

YOUNG SCOT DEFIANT AS 'HORRENDOUS' CONDITIONS CAUSE CHAOS IN WRC ACADEMY OPENER IN PORTUGAL

Scotland's John MacCrone survived a chaotic day (Friday 30/03/12) in the Algarve hills behind Faro to head into tomorrow's final three stages of the Rally of Portugal with very hope of scoring WRC Academy points.

The 22-year-old from the Isle of Mull — whose Ford Fiesta travelled most of the way from Lisbon to Faro on the back of a flatbed truck after he damaged the car on Stage 2 on Thursday evening — was in defiant mood when he spoke at rally HQ.

"I definitely think we can still score points this weekend," MacCrone, whose Rally Team Scotland car is backed by Tunnocks and Palletforce, stated.

That though had looked unlikely when he landed his Ford Fiesta heavily on its nose after he took a crest just 3km/h too quickly in the first gravel stage of the event.

"It was a very, very small mistake," the Scot admitted. "But we paid a heavy price. The nose of the Fiesta dug deep into the gravel and we badly damaged the front of the car."

That 'damage' ripped the sumpguard off the front of the Fiesta and damaged the oil cooler, resulting in the car dumping all its oil in the stage.

"It meant we couldn't continue contesting Leg One," MacCrone, who had been just 6.5secs off the pace after his opening stage in the WRC Academy, continued.

Fine margins claim Scot John MacCrone and eight-times world champ Sebastien Loeb in Portugal

THE FINE MARGINS which distinguish between success and failure at the highest levels of motorsport are miniscule, as both Scotland's John MacCrone and eight-time world rally champion, Sebastien Loeb, discovered in Portugal.

Both drivers, at opposite ends of their careers in the World Rally Championship, succumbed to mistakes in the opening two gravel stages of the Rally of Portugal.

But while the Frenchman inexplicably turned left instead of right as his Citroen topped a high-speed crest, rolling his car out of the rally, MacCrone's error was simply carrying 3km/h too much into a crest on Stage 2 at Gomes Aires.

Young Scots Rally Ace John MacCrone Ready WRC Debut

Scotland's latest young rally ace, John MacCrone, faces one of the toughest rallies of his career when he makes his 2012 World Rally Championship (WRC) debut tomorrow (29/03/2012).

The 22-year-old from the Isle of Mull starts the Rally of Portugal tomorrow, the first of the six rounds which comprise the WRC Academy, the official feeder series to the WRC.

The Scot, who today completed three seven-kilometre test stages in the hills behind Faro in Portugal's Algarve, admitted the car-breaking conditions are a severe test.

"We've carried out a recce of all the stages, and some of them are very, very rough with huge big rocks in them," MacCrone, partnered by Glasgow co-driver Stuart Loudon in the Rally Team Scotland car, explained.

"They're also very technical. But our abiding impression of them is that they are very rough and we know punctures are going to be a real threat.

"There's a couple of stages which will be very fast, and one is very smooth, but as for the others: well it'll be a case of trying hard not to get a puncture."

MacCrone, backed by Scots confectionery firm Tunnocks, and Palletforce, admitted he is also planning to alter his driving style to cope with the conditions.

"Normally I'd be pretty flat-out," he continued. "That's how I drive. But in these conditions I feel that any car which gets to the end of the event will be in a good position.

"So I'm planning on taking an easier approach to the event, and choosing carefully when we can put the foot down. It's crucial though that we stay out of trouble."

MacCrone Steps Up To WRC Academy

After a stunning finish on last season's Wales Rally GB, Scotland's John MacCrone and Stuart Loudon will step up to contest the world's top rally series for young drivers – the FIA WRC Academy.

Rally Team_Scotland

With continued backing from principle team partners Palletforce and Tunnock's, the Rally Team Scotland pair will line up alongside a raft of other young hot shots in identical Ford Fiesta R2s chasing a prize drive next season.

On his last WRC event, MacCrone put in the drive of his life to take an incredible class win and finish top two-wheel-drive car on Wales Rally GB – the final round of the 2011 FIA World Rally Championship.

Battling with the world's best young rally drivers, MacCrone and Loudon powered the Fiesta R2 to 23rd overall and first in class six by a commanding margin.

The WRC Academy also provides competitors with expert tuition across a number of disciplines including media awareness, first aid training and technical briefings. The pre-season training takes place from 6-8 March at M-Sport in Cumbria where drivers will also be able to get behind the wheel of their Fiesta at M-Sport's testing ground where they will receive valuable tuition from an experienced driver.

MacCrone Magic Delivers Double World Class Win

Rally Team Scotland’s John MacCrone put in the drive of his life this weekend to take an incredible class win and finish top two-wheel-drive car on Wales Rally GB – the final round of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

Stuart Loudon and John MacCrone

Battling with the world’s best young rally drivers, MacCrone and co-driver Stuart Loudon powered the Palletforce Fiesta R2 to 23^rd overall and first in class six by a commanding margin. Their performance also earned the Richard Burns and Michael Park Trophies, in memory of the two former competitors, for top British, non-priority driver and co-driver on the rally.

This class win on the UK’s most important rally event, and only their second ever WRC rally, follows a similar result on their native Rally of Scotland last month and demonstrates the pair’s ability to step-up in performance to the world level.

MacCrone Finishes Top Scottish Driver on Home Rally

Palletforce Rally Team driver John MacCrone has delivered a strong performance to finish as top Scottish driver on the high-profile Rally of Scotland – the UK’s round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge.

His clever driving in the orange Fiesta R2 also claimed a class victory and ensured he finished as second two-wheel-drive car amidst a field of extremely experienced drivers from across the world.

MacCrone, from the Isle of Mull, lined up alongside fellow countrymen David Bogie, current British and Scottish Rally Champion, and former world rally driver Alister McRae - but he came out on top after the challenging forest conditions took their toll on many crews.