John MacCrone has continued his rise to stardom after clinching a major award at the 2009 Scottish Rally Championship Awards in Glasgow.
The Palletforce and TSL Contractors-backed Scottish Junior Rally Champion rounded off a remarkable debut season by taking home the inaugural Hankook Scottish Rally Championship Junior Prize Drive.
The drive will now propel John onto the international stage, allowing him to compete in a fully-supported Group N car at an event in the 2010 Rally of China calendar, alongside co-driver Peter MacCrone.
“We have had a brilliant year,” explained John.
He added: “Not only have we had great fun, but to pick up the Scottish Junior Championship, the 205 Ecosse Challenge titles and now the Hankook Prize Drive has been unbelievable.
“Getting the opportunity to compete in a top-spec four-wheel drive car has fulfilled a life-long ambition – I have never left the UK, so for me this really is a dream come true.”
John was awarded the Junior Prize Drive following a season-long assessment by five judges, among them rallying legend Jim McRae and leading co-driver Dave Robson, which focused on all aspects of modern-day rallying – from driving ability and team work, to media relations and physical fitness.
After beating off stiff competition from five other finalists, including Scottish Champion David Bogie, John will now receive full prior tuition from a leading international driver and the support of a works team whilst in China.
Co-driver Peter will also have tuition from a top international navigator.
Tipped as one of the hottest talents in years, John’s pedigree as a rally car driver was underlined earlier this year when he was awarded a coveted place at the Motor Sports Association British Rally Academy.
Aimed at finding the next world champion, the 20-year-old has shone since joining the academy and has enjoyed an astounding first, fully competitive season in rallying behind the wheel of his Peugeot 205 GTi, in the 205 Ecosse Challenge.
Hailing from the small and isolated Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland, John developed a burning passion for rally driving after years of growing up watching the island’s iconic Tour of Mull.
Known as ‘the best rally in the world’, exhilarating scenes of mud splattered, tyre squealing cars rallying through his village are among John’s earliest memories - and have held him captive ever since.
Aged just 16, John joined the Bear Cub Rally Sport team, a charity setup to involve the village’s youngsters – most of who were too young to compete or simply could not afford to take part.
Since then there has been no looking back for John, who with the support of Palletforce and TSL Contactors has had huge success in the Tour of Mull and a number of rallies throughout the UK.
John now hopes to build on the success of this year and reach his goal of competing in the 2010 British Rally Championship.
John said: “The success of this season has really made me want to take my rallying career to the next level. I would love to compete in the British Rally Championship next year, so I am going to be busy over the next few months trying to get the necessary sponsorship to achieve this.”
