Scots rally ace John MacCrone returns to his favourite surface this weekend when he tackles the Jim Clark Rally, the second round of the British Rally Championship.Run completely on closed-off public roads, the 23-year-old from the Isle of Mull is looking forward to upping the pace on the Borders tarmac between Duns and Kelso.Tarmac is my preferred surface and its what I grew up with on the Isle of Mull,  MacCrone, who will again drive his Culina Palletforce Racing Citroen DS3 R3, saidThe roads on the Jim Clark are much different, however, with lots of junctions and fast sections. Its important to carry speed through the slow corners so you get the maximum drive up the following straight.In contrast to gravel driving style, you really need to keep the car straight on tarmac: you dont want it moving at all because that's when you start losing time. "Braking is always in a straight line and you think more about the racing line through a corner and try to be more precise."The Jim Clark Rally is one of my favourite events of the year. It's probably one of best know rallies in the UK, and it always attracts a big entry list and huge crowds at the side of the stages."The Jim Clark Rallyrun over 16 stages and 195 timed milesis the only event to be held totally on closed-off public roads on the UK mainland. The tarmac-based Mull Rally on the Hebrides in October.And MacCrone, again co-driven by Phil Pugh, is looking to build on his excellent performance in the BRC opener, the Pirelli Rally."We finished the Pirelli with top three-fastest times in three stages, culminating by being quickest in the event's final stage," MacCrone, who recovered from a puncturewhich relegated him from third to 14thto finish fifth, continued."We're heading into the JIm Clark looking to pick up from where we left at the Pirelli."It's no secret that tarmac's my favourite surface, and hopefully we can be on the pace right from the start and mix it at the top of the leaderboard."But MacCrone acknowledges that tyre choice is likely to play a crucial part on the opening leg, which consists of a loop of three stages each run twice on Friday evening."We've six stages, including two runs on the spectator special in Duns, the new stage at Tweedside, plus two runs through the longest stage of the rally, the 16-miler at Abbey St Bathans," the Scot explained."And there's no service between any of the stages, so the tyres we put on for the start of the first stage have to get us right through the evening."Make the wrong tyre choice, and you can scupper your whole rally. Get it right, and you're in with a chance."The crucial decision will be made around an hour before the start of the first run through the 1.2-mile spectator special stage. And with the weather forecast hinting at showers, finding elusive grip on the slippery tarmac surface will be pivotal. MacCrone, who will be tackling the Jim Clark Rally for the third time, knows patience will be crucial."You don't want to throw it all away on the Friday evening," he stated, "but at the same time you've got to be fast enough to be in contention."We've a good idea what the pace is that will be needed, and if we can achieve that, then we should be in a good position for the final 10 stages on Saturday." Note: The Jim Clark Rally starts at 7pm in Duns on Friday, May 31, with six stages. It restarts at 8am in Kelso on Saturday, June 1, when a further 10 stages are run. The podium ceremony is in Kelso at 5.28pm.