PALLETFORCE

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."

The one-make feeder series to the WRC sees the world's best young drivers compete in identical Ford Fiesta R2s prepared and maintained by M-Sport.

The winner receives the opportunity to contest all rounds of the 2013 WRC in a Fiesta R2. Alternatively, they can opt to compete in five rounds, stepping up to a Fiesta S2000.

Yesterday's short test was MacCrone's first experience of his all-new Fiesta.  "The car felt really good, and we were immediately pretty fast with it," he said. "We're restricted to how much we can change the car, but we've tweaked the suspension a bit.

"It's going to be an interesting rally. What's important for us, is that we finish and score some points, then we can build on that momentum and carry it into the next rally."

MacCrone travels to Lisbon today for the ceremonial start, before tackling the opening four timed stages on the drive back south to the Algarve.

After another six stages on Friday, MacCrone will contest the final three stages on Saturday (31/03/2012) morning before the rally finishes back at Faro.