By Paul Evans
Osian Pryce will make a welcome return to the Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey tomorrow (Sunday 30 December) when the WRC2 star contests the West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages.
The 25-year old Machynlleth-born 2016 DriveDMACK Champion had planned to contest the Carmarthen Motor Club organised event in the same Citroen DS3 R3 in which he contested the 2015 FIA Junior World Rally Championship. But instead Pryce will now team up with co-driving girlfriend Jess Hockly in the Ford Fiesta ST that he first rallied in 2010.
“We did the JAFFA Stages last year, and it’s a great opportunity to blow the Christmas cobwebs away and do a rally purely for fun,” said Pryce. “We’ve been forced into a late change of car as the Citroen won’t be ready in time, which means I’ll be out again in my faithful old Fiesta ST. The focus down at Pembrey will be on entertaining the fans, trying to set some giant-killing stage times and having a laugh. It should be a great day’s rallying.”
The event has once again received a full entry, with last year’s winner Phil Turner, from Craig Cefn Parc, seeded at number one in his Mitsubishi Evo. Penrhiwllan’s Jamie Jukes starts at two in the Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage, Thomas Cooper is at three in a Mitsubishi Evo, Gavin Edwards is at four in an Escort Mk2, with Pryce seeded at number five.
The event will be the first to adopt a new ticketing policy at Pembrey, with spectators being charged £5 per person, rather than £10 per car, with children under 14 free – fantastic value, for a full day’s motorsport entertainment.
West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages – top 10 seeded entry
1. Phil Turner/Simon Anthony….Mitsubishi Evo
2. Jamie Jukes/James Morgan….Mitsubishi Mirage
3. Thomas Cooper/Ian Davis….Mitsubishi Evo
4. Gavin Edwards/Caron Tomlinson….Ford Escort Mk2
5. Osian Pryce/Jess Hockly….Ford Fiesta ST
6. Mike Jewell/Ben Jewell….Subaru Impreza
7. Tom Barber/Ioan Lloyd….BMW Compact
8. Steve Knibbs/Gerwyn Barry….Subaru Impreza
9. Jim Munden/Danny Hutchins….Subaru Impreza
10. Roger Thomas/James Williams….Fiesta R5