By Paul Evans
It’s not unusual to start a rallying story with the news that Osian Pryce has won – but this time the British Rally Championship frontrunning driver has done exactly that from the co-driver’s seat.
Navigating on a road rally for the first time in 10 years, the Machynlleth ace guided Rhodri Evans to victory on the Snow Liner Road Rally.
Seventy crews took part in the Welsh Border Car Club novice event, which started from the village of Llangedwyn in Powys.
Despite Evans/Pryce only deciding to team up and contest the event together over a beer one evening, they completed the event with no fails in a Tsalta Motorsport Escort Mk2.
Iwan Bowness/Tomos Shakespeare were second, while Heath and Dylan Griffiths finished third.
It’s Welsh Border Car Club’s Snowliner Road Rally tonight, starting out of Llangedwyn in Powys.
Great to see @OsianPryce on the maps for Rhodri Evans! 👏
🏴 #SnowlinerRally pic.twitter.com/AovQ5voqni
— Rallying UK 🌐 (@RallyingUK) April 2, 2022
“I think it’s fair to say we never imagined that a win was ever possible, let alone go clean on time all night,” said Pryce.
“Everything went almost like clockwork.
“Massive hats off to Rhodri on the way he drove.
“In only his second ever event driving in the lanes, he jumped into the car and drove the balls out of it.
“He definitely wasn’t shy in having a go!
“The standard of driving was pretty high from where I was sat, and even when it didn’t go quite to plan he still managed to style it out perfectly!
It’s Welsh Border Car Club’s Snowliner Road Rally tonight, starting out of Llangedwyn in Powys.
Here are some images 👇
🏴 #SnowlinerRally pic.twitter.com/pfZ5hUwmvV
— Rallying UK 🌐 (@RallyingUK) April 2, 2022
“I’m glad my ten year break from navigation didn’t hold him back too much and I didn’t make any blunders that would have cost us a result.
“I’m even more chuffed that I’ve managed to get a win in both seats now. It’s another box ticked for me!”
“The plan for the night was to drive the nuts off the car, have a laugh and hope we got a finish, and we certainly did all that,” added Evans.
“We didn’t expect to end the night as winners and clean the whole rally, not dropping a single second.
“I’ve got to say fair play to Osian on the maps.
“He didn’t miss a junction, control or mess any of the timing up.
“It was as if he’d done it for years, and as a bonus he didn’t complain about my driving – except when I got on the load pedal to soon on a couple of junctions, resulting in donuts!
“Huge thanks to Welsh Border Car Club members who took the time to put the event together and the marshals and photographers who stood out in the cold for us to have a skid.
“Thanks also to Tsalta Motorsport for the hire of the Escort, and yes it came back in the same condition as it was collected!”