Home hero Pryce shows true class in Wales
29.10.16
News release
Home hero Pryce shows true class in Wales
Welsh rally star Osian Pryce set a blistering pace through the second day of Wales Rally GB and ran as fastest Ford Fiesta R5 until a power steering problem slowed his progress on the second loop of stages.
Having spent yesterday playing himself into the Fiesta R5 – a car he hadn’t driven for two years – Osian and co-driver Dale were on sublime form through the infamous Dyfi complex.
Despite predictions of sunshine and dry weather, Wales turned wet and the rain ruined any hope of consistent grip. Not that that bothered Osian. He was flying.
Fastest Fiesta on the second and third stages of the day moved him into a comfortable fifth in WRC2 (behind four Skoda Fabia R5s).
But, it was his pace through the start of the second run at Dyfi which really astonished onlookers.
For the first 6.3 kilometres, Osian simply slaughtered everybody. Skoda’s WRC2 Champion elect Teemu Suninen? Nine seconds slower than Osian in just six kilometres.
Then, disaster. Just a few hundred metres down the road, the power-steering failed. Osian stopped the car, reset everything, but the same thing happened.
His Dyfi dream was done. Four minutes would be lost and fifth became sixth in WRC2.
“That second run through Dyfi felt so good,” said Osian. “I’d been a bit messy through there first time, but the second time it was all looking very, very good. A few people told me we were up at the start, but to see the split times and see we were taking more than a second per kilometre out of the top guys in the class – guys who are being linked to full world championship drives next season – is fantastic.
“No doubt, people will talk about this being my home stage, but I’m not bothered about that. Those guys have been in these cars all year, I’ve done a day in our Fiesta – I think that levels the playing field!
“When the power-steering problem came, I was gutted; so disappointed. But these things can happen. The most important thing is the pace we showed today. We struggled for confidence a bit in Pantperthog first up, but after that everything was brilliant.
“Until mid-way through Dyfi second time through, I’ve never driven with a bigger smile on my face. Overall, we’re sixth in WRC2 and second Fiesta. If we can bring home that result tomorrow, I’ll be pleased – that was more than we’d expected before the start. But to be able to point to the times we were doing this morning is a real bonus and it gives me lots of confidence for next season.”
Today was…
Osian’s day in detail. His times against his WRC2 rivals:
SS9: 9th fastest (6th in WRC2) struggled for confidence
SS10: 5th fastest (5th in WRC2) first non-Skoda overall
SS11: 4th fastest (5th in WRC2) fastest Fiesta, just 2.8s off fastest WRC2
SS12: 4th fastest (5th in WRC2) much better run in Pantperthog
SS13: 16th fastest (6th in WRC2) staggering speed, then steering trouble
SS14: 16th fastest (6th in WRC2) steering trouble goes on…
SS15: 14th fastest (6th in WRC2) … and on
SS16: 14th fastest (6th in WRC2) great crowds in Cholmondeley!
Weather:
Today: overcast with occasional rain, temperatures ranging from 12-15 degrees
Tomorrow: similar to today with occasional rain and temperatures around 14 degrees
Tomorrow is…
Sunday October 30
Osian’s day starts: 0805
Osian’s day finishes: 1300
Number of stages: six
Competitive distance: 52.08km (32.36 miles)
Total distance: 238.22km (148.02 miles)
Longest stage: SS19/21 Alwen 10.41km (6.46 miles)
Shortest stage: SS17/20 Clocaenog 7.70km (4.78 miles)
Meet Osian…
Date of birth: 24.02.93
Lives: Machynlleth
Co-driver: Dale Furniss
First rally: Rally Kurzeme (Latvia) August 2009 – 37th overall, eighth 2WD
Rally starts: 62
British Rally Championship event wins: 5*
British Rally Championship results: 2nd (2013/14), 3rd (2012)
World Rally Championship starts: 10
World Rally Championship class wins: 3
Website: osianpryce.com
* Including Osian’s dominant National Rally Cup victory on this year’s Mid Wales Stages
About Dayinsure Wales Rally GB
October 27-30
Based: Deeside
Surface: gravel
Stages: 22
Competitive distance: 330.21km (205.19 miles)
Total distance: 1295.94km (805.29 miles)
Website: www.walesrallygb.com
Dayinsure Wales Rally GB Itinerary
Thursday October 27
Shakedown stage, Clocaenog 3.32 km (2.06 miles)
Ceremonial start, Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay 1830
Friday October 28
SS1 Myherin 1 31.82km (19.77 miles) 0820
SS2 Sweet Lamb 1 4.24km (2.63 miles) 0911
SS3 Hafren 1 35.14km (21.83 miles) 0924
SS4 Dyfnant 1 17.91km (11.12 miles) 1115
Remote tyre fitting zone at Newtown 1236
SS5 Myherin 2 31.82km (19.77 miles) 1354
SS6 Sweet Lamb 2 4.24km (2.63 miles) 1445
SS7 Hafren 2 35.14km (21.83 miles) 1458
SS8 Dyfnant 2 17.91km (11.12 miles) 1649
Service Deeside 1945
Saturday October 29
SS9 Pantperthog 1 9.64km (5.99 miles) 0818
SS10 Dyfi 1 21.12km (13.12 miles) 0851
SS11 Gartheiniog 1 11.34km (7.04 miles) 0927
SS12 Pantperthog 2 9.64km (5.99 miles) 1104
SS13 Dyfi 2 21.12km (13.12 miles) 1137
SS14 Gartheiniog 2 11.34km (7.04 miles) 1213
SS15 Aberhirnant 13.91km (8.64 miles) 1318
SS16 Cholmondeley Castle 1.80km (1.11 miles) 1541
Service Deeside 1633
Sunday October 30
SS17 Clocaenog 1 7.70km (4.78 miles) 0831
SS18 Brenig 1 7.93km (4.92 miles) 0908
SS19 Alwen 1 10.41km (6.46 miles) 0928
SS20 Clocaenog 2 7.70km (4.78 miles) 1033
SS21 Alwen 2 10.41km (6.46 miles) 1114
SS22 Brenig 2 7.93km (4.92 miles) 1208
Finish Llandudno 1700
Dayinsure Wales Rally GB media contact:
Jonathan Gill
+44 (0)1372 414120
Now say hello to the Ford Fiesta R5
Engine: 1600cc turbo, 32mm restrictor
Max power: 280bhp @ 6,200rpm
Transmission: Sadev five-speed sequential gearbox, Sadev front /rear differential
Suspension: Adjustable Reiger dampers, MacPherson struts front/rear
Brakes: 300mm discs four-piston calipers; hydraulic handbrake
Wheels: OZ Racing 7x15-inch
Dimensions: length 3982mm; width 1695mm; height 1481mm; wheelbase 2490mm
Osian’s championship-winning 2016 so far…
Rally Portugal
May 19-22
Based: Matosinhos
Surface: gravel
Osian outings: 2 (2015, retired – mechanical; 2016 1st in DDFT)
Result: 1st
Stage wins: 4
Stages led: 1
Osian and Dale took a sensible approach to the first half of the Porto-based opener, but still remained in the top three throughout the event. Moved to the front on the final day and took the win by almost two minutes.
Rally Poland
June 30-July 3
Based: Mikolajki
Surface: gravel
Osian outings: 2 (2015, 2nd Junior WRC; 2016 2nd in DDFT)
Result: 2nd
Stage wins: 8
Stages led: 4
Rarely has second place been celebrated in quite such a fashion. Osian’s result secured him the first major victory of the World Rally Championship season so far. Leading the points race after the first two DDFT rounds, Osian and Dale are now confirmed as factory DMACK drivers for two WRC events in a Ford Fiesta R5 next season.
Rally Finland
July 28-31
Based: Jyväskylä
Surface: gravel
Osian outings: 1
Result: 6th
Stage wins: 8
Stages led: 5
Osian and Dale showed the Finns the way home in Finland last time out. Quickest DDFT runners on days one and three, only a Saturday morning shunt spoiled the Welshmen’s dream debut on the world’s fastest rally.
Rally Germany
August 18-21
Based: Trier
Surface: asphalt
Osian outings: 1
Result: 1st
Stage wins: 5
Stages led: 15
It doesn’t get much better than this: Osian and Dale lead from start to finish in a supremely quick and perfectly controlled victory on their Rally Germany debut.
Rally of Spain
October 13-16
Based: Salou
Surface: gravel/asphalt
Osian outings: 1
Result: 5th
Stage wins: 4
Stages led: 1
Crowned DDFT Champions for 2016.
Media contact:
Sandra Evans
+44 7887 693993
sandra@wordspr.com
