A Tayside children’s cancer charity is poised for some high-speed profile during a celebration of Scottish motorsport hero Colin McRae this weekend.
Forfar-based Rally Team Scotland driver John MacCrone will be on the start line for the McRae Rally Challenge at Knockhill, a 20th anniversary celebration of the Lanark legend’s World Championship win which is set to attract thousands of fans to Fife.
As well as trying to impress in a world-class line-up for the invitation-only rally, MacCrone will be carrying the logo of TCCL (Tayside Children with Cancer and Leukaemia) on the bonnet of a £200,000 Ford Fiesta R5 rally car to raise funds and awareness for the group which is stepping closer of creating a family getaway facility in St Andrews.
A house in the town is being converted to become the TCCL Lodge and 25-year-old MacCrone is backing the project with an online fundraising appeal.
“I spend a lot of time trying to find money from sponsors for my rallying so I thought it would be nice to try to give something back to such a good cause,” said John.
As a thank you to the Angus sponsors, MacCrone turned Forfar heads when he took the pocket rocket car on a whistlestop tour of backers on Saturday.
Colin M Smith, Oilfast, Strathtay Potato Company, TSL, Watermans and GS Robertson have all helped Rally Team Scotland with backing.
The two-day McRae Challenge will deliver a stellar line-up of drivers and machinery and MacCrone said he was honoured to lining up against big names in the sport.
WRC star Kris Meeke, who was mentored by McRae, will be at Knockhill fresh from his recent debut championship victory on Rally Argentina, and circuit-based British Touring Car champion Gordon Shedden will be competing in a rally car for the first time.
“It is a real privilege to be invited to take part. Colin was such a hero to every rally driver like myself so it is going to be awesome to be part of the event.”