By Paul Evans
Osian Pryce will contest his first rally in a pukka, fully-homologated, R5 car for the first time in two years when he drives a Hyundai i20 R5 on next month’s Get Connected Rali Bae Ceredigion.
The talented 26-year old Machynlleth-born driver was last seen in an R5 car on the 2017 British Rally Championship – which, had it not been for mechanical problems with his then Ford Fiesta R5, he would have won. His last finish in an R5 car was on the FIA World Rally Championship stage, when he came home a superb fourth in WRC2 on the 2017 Rally Finland.
Co-driven by Llanfyllin-based Dale Furniss, Pryce’s car will be run by Melvyn Evans Motorsport and has support from Wynfford Williams Car Sales, Pirelli, G&M Pryce Ltd and Hockly Motorsport.
Pryce’s participation in the Aberystwyth University-based Rali Bae Ceredigion, which will be the first closed road stage rally to be held in Wales on Sunday 8 September, was put in doubt after a mountain ‘biking accident in Mont-Blanc left him with a broken collarbone, shoulder blade and rib. But after surgery in a local French hospital and an intensive recovery programme back at home, Pryce is fit and ready for his first outing since winning his local Rally North Wales National A forestry event back in March, where he drove a RallyXtreme-prepared BDA-engined Ford Escort Mk2.
“I’ve been working hard to return to rallying in a proper R5 car, and it’s nice to be able to come and support Wales’ first closed road stage rally in a car run by one of Wales’ top rally teams,” said Pryce.
“After my mountain ‘bike accident in France, my number one priority was to get fit for the Rali Bae Ceredigion. It hasn’t exactly been the ideal preparation, but my recovery is ahead of schedule and everything will be fine. I’m excited to be returning to competition in a fully-homologated R5 car for the first time in two years, and I’m really looking forward to my first rally in a Hyundai i20. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was also feeling a little bit apprehensive, but I’m confident that those nerves will disappear when the crash helmet goes on!
“Rali Bae Ceredigion will be a very tough event, because the stages are very busy and technical and will be tricky for everyone – plus there is a superb entry, and it’s an event that everyone wants to be the first winner of. Having only driven rear-wheel drive historic Escorts for a bit of fun over the last two years, and my last event in one of those was six months ago, the odds of winning myself are stacked against me, but I’ll be trying as hard as I possibly can and would be really happy with a podium finish.”