Cronin not expecting miracles

The 23-year-old Irishman is eyeing-up an IRC programme for next year and will use the November 19-21 event as a first taste of rallying in a Super 2000 car. He will drive an Abarth Grande Punto on the Stirling-based rally and go head-to-head with recently crowned IRC champion Kris Meeke.

Cronin, who won this year's British title in his first attempt at the series, said: "I think Scotland will be a big learning experience. In all honesty, I'd probably be better going there in my own car. This is a whole new concept to me, but the S2000 certainly looks like a good, fun car to drive.

"There's a lot of learning for me to do in Scotland and I'll be doing it against boys who have been in the cars all year."

Cronin was selected as the BRC's Pirelli Star Driver, meaning he will defend his British title in a Pirelli-backed car while simultaneously looking to take the next step up in the sport.

Entries for the Rally of Scotland continue to flow in, with former Production Car World Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah the latest to commit his Subaru Impreza WRX to the event.