It’s a super Saturday for Osian in Portugal

21.05.16

News release

It’s a super Saturday for Osian in Portugal

Welsh rally star Osian Pryce holds a comfortable second place after day two of Rally of Portugal, the opening round of the World Rally Championship’s Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy.

Pryce was on stunning form through the toughest day of the rally, setting fastest times on half of the day’s stages to strengthen his grip on second place.

With more than 100 competitive miles in two loops of three stages, Osian and co-driver Dale Furniss were mindful of the rough nature of the roads – particularly on the second loop – but at the same time, they were keen to bag bonus points on offer for the fastest times. Their most impressive performance came on the foggy second run at the Marão test.

With one day and four stages remaining, Osian’s almost two minutes ahead of third-placed Max Vatanen.

“It’s been another very good day for us,” said Pryce. “The car has been faultless. The only issue today was on the second stage, where I felt we were overdriving a little bit. The car was sliding too much and that cost us some time.

“It’s really hard on these roads to find a rhythm, they are twisting and turning all the time. And the fog on the middle stage of the afternoon loop was just unbelievable. You often hear drivers saying these are the worst conditions they’ve ever driven in, but I’ll be honest: that stage was the worst fog I’ve ever seen. And seeing was the issue; at times I genuinely couldn’t see past the end of the bonnet. That was a stage where the pacenotes Dale and I had made worked really well. The risk though was with the rocks, we were trying to avoid them, but in SS14 we couldn’t even see them!

“So far, everything is working. Tomorrow, it’s more of the same – all eyes on the finish, but if there’s any chance of a few more bonus points then we’ll give it a go.

“Tomorrow’s stages are some of the best and nicest to drive. And, of course, they include the world famous Fafe stage with the huge jump. For as long as I can remember, I’ve known about this jump – watching videos of Group B cars coming over there and then drivers like Colin McRae. It’s kind of one of those pinch-yourself moments when you get there.

“Amazing as this place is, Dale and I won’t be getting over excited, it’s just another part of the road we’re on this year!”

Rally of Portugal finishes alongside the Atlantic Ocean in Matosinhos tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon.

Today was…

Osian’s day in detail. His times against his DDFT rivals.

SS10: fastest (2nd in DDFT) Osian’s maiden fastest time in DDFT

SS11: 4thfastest (2ndin DDFT) sliding too much in super-twisty stage

SS12: fastest (2nd in DDFT) back to his neat and tidy best

SS13: 2ndfastest (2ndin DDFT) careful run through rough rutted stage

SS14: fastest (2nd in DDFT) fastest in the fog

SS15: 3rdfastest (2ndin DDFT) trouble-free end to the day

Weather:

Today: misty and cloudy, occasional light rain. Temperatures: 13-20 Celsius.

Tomorrow: potential for overnight rain into tomorrow.

Tomorrow is…

Sunday May 22

Osian’s day starts: 0700

Osian’s day finishes: 1550

Number of stages: four

Competitive distance: 41.83 miles (67.32km)

Total distance: 240.87 miles (387.63km)

Longest stage: SS16/18 Vieira do Minho 13.96 miles (22.47km)

Shortest stage: SS17/19 Fafe 6.95 miles (11.19km)

Meet Osian…

Date of birth: 24.02.93

Lives: Machynlleth

Co-driver: Dale Furniss

First rally: Rally Kurzeme (Latvia) August 2009 – 37thoverall, eighth 2WD

Rally starts: 57

British Rally Championship event wins: 5*

British Rally Championship results: 2nd(2013/14), 3rd(2012)

World Rally Championship starts: 5

World Rally Championship class wins: 1

Website: osianpryce.com

* Including Osian’s dominant National Rally Cup victory on this year’s Mid Wales Stages

About Rally of Portugal

May 19-22

Based: Matosinhos

Surface: gravel

Stages: 19

Competitive distance: 368km (228.67 miles)

Total distance: 1683.90km (1046.37 miles)

Website: www.rallydeportugal.pt

Rally of Portugal itinerary

Thursday May 19

Start Guimarães                                                                      1810

SS1 Lousada                                   3.36km (2.08 miles)         1901

Friday May 20

SS2 Ponte de Lima 1                     27.44km (17.05 miles)     0930

SS3 Caminha 1                              18.03km (11.20 miles)     1014

SS4 Viana do Castelo 1                18.70km (11.62 miles)     1103

Service Exponor                                                                   1330

SS5 Ponte de Lima 2                  27.44km (17.05 miles)     1539

SS6 Caminha 2                          18.03km (11.20 miles)       1623

SS7 Viana do Castelo 2             18.70km (11.62 miles)       1712

SS8 Porto Street Stage 1          1.85km (1.14 miles)            1903

SS9 Porto Street Stage 2          1.85km (1.14 miles)            1918

Service Exponor                                                                    1950

Saturday May 21

SS10 Baião 1                              18.66km (11.59 miles)     0942

SS11 Marão 1                             26.31km (16.34 miles)     1024

SS12 Amarante 1                        37.67km (23.40 miles)     1152

Service Exponor                                                                   1325

SS13 Baião 2                              18.66km (11.59 miles)      1532

SS14 Marão 2                              26.31km (16.34 miles)      1614

SS15 Amarante 2                         37.67km (23.40 miles)      1742

Service Exponor                                                                     1915

Sunday May 22

SS16 Vieira do Minho 1                 22.47km (13.96 miles)     0704

SS17 Fafe 1                                   11.19km (6.95 miles)       0908

SS18 Vieira do Minho 2                  22.47km (13.96 miles)     1004

SS19 Fafe 2                                    11.19km (6.95 miles)       1208

Finish Matosinhos            

Media contact:
Miguel Fonseca
+351 913 772 088
miguel.fonseca@acp.pt

Now say hello to the Ford Fiesta R2T

Engine: 999cc turbo, 12-valve, three cylinders

Max power: 180bhp @ 6,200rpm

Max torque: 250Nm @ 4,000rpm

Transmission: Sadev five-speed sequential gearbox, plated limited-slip differential and uprated driveshafts

Suspension: Adjustable Reiger dampers, Eibach springs

Brakes: 285mm discs four-piston calipers (front gravel); 310mm discs four-piston calipers (front asphalt); 280mm discs two-piston calipers (rear); hydraulic handbrake

Wheels: OZ Racing 6x15-inch (gravel); 6.5x15-inch (asphalt)

Dimensions: length 3982mm; width 1695mm; height 1481mm; wheelbase 2490mm

Weight: 1030kg

About the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy

The brainchild of M-Sport World Rally Team principal Malcolm Wilson and DMACK managing director Dick Cormack, the DDFT takes the best young drivers from around the world and pitches them into a five-round fight for the biggest prize south of the World Rally Championship itself.

There’s a season in a Ford Fiesta R5 car at rallying’s second tier – WRC2 – on offer to the winner after five rounds. The structure of DDFT has changed slightly this season, with rallies being paired (Portugal and Poland; Poland and Finland; Germany and Spain) and the crew gathering the most points from each of those two rallies will win two rallies in the R5 car next season.

Winning a full WRC2 season of 2017 competition in an M-Sport Fiesta R5 will require consistent speed from Osian and Dale this year. 

Media contact:

Sandra Evans

+44 7887 693993

sandra@wordspr.com

Sandra Evans
sandra@wordspr.com
44 (0) 7887 693993

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