Osian’s world title chase goes down to the wire
15.10.16
News release
Osian’s world title chase goes down to the wire
Osian Pryce’s hopes of taking the World Rally Championship’s most lucrative prize will go down to the wire in Spain tomorrow (Sunday).
The Machynlleth driver is embroiled in a battle with Finland’s Max Vatanen on the final round of the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy at this week’s Salou-based Rally of Spain.
Osian’s Ford Fiesta R2 was hit by a misfire on yesterday’s opening loop of gravel stages in the hills of Tarragona, dropping him and co-driver Dale Furniss to 10thplace. Such has been Osian’s speed earlier in the season, however, he came to the final round with a 14-point lead – it’s that lead which keeps Welsh hopes alive tonight.
After dropping time and places on day one, Osian is relying on bonus points for winning stages to keep him in the race. With one day to go, he and Vatanen are tied on points at the top of the table.
“I can’t believe how close it is,” said Osian. “This one really is going down to the final stage – what an incredible way to end the season. We have nothing to lose on the final day, we just have to push as hard as we can.
“I was pretty devastated yesterday, I’ve got to be honest. We’ve worked so hard all year for this, everybody around me – my friends and family – have put so much in and another win would have been amazing.
“Those same people really came together last night and lifted Dale and I again. We’ve got a job to do. We want to win this championship, we want to take this title back to Wales. This is a chance to really show how strong British rallying is and we’re going to do absolutely everything we can tomorrow.
“We’ve managed some stage wins today, but the car’s still not quite perfect. It’s not nearly as bad as it was yesterday, but it’s just not pulling cleanly between 3000 and 4000rpm – that’s really hurting us on the tight and twisty stuff. Once we’re up in top gear and above 4000rpm, happy days, she’s singing along then and that’s how we were able to be quickest in El Montmell – it’s all quite quick in there.
“So, the season comes down to the final day and probably the final stage. Let’s see what tomorrow brings!”
Today was…
Osian’s day in detail. His times against his DDFT rivals:
SS8: 4th fastest (10thin DDFT) cautious start after day one trouble
SS9: fastest (10th in DDFT) happy with first fastest time on Spanish Tarmac
SS10: 3rd fastest (10thin DDFT) misfire back
SS11: 2nd fastest (10thin DDFT) misfire between 3000-4000rpm
SS12: 2nd fastest (10thin DDFT) clean run on afternoon opener
SS13: 2nd fastest (10thin DDFT) just 0.1s off fastest!
SS14: fastest (9th in DDFT) huge push and another point
SS15: 2nd fastest (9thin DDFT) missed quickest by 0.3s!
Weather:
Today: sunshine with temperatures from 11 to 24 degrees
Tomorrow: more sunshine on its way with similar temperatures
Tomorrow is…
Sunday October 16
Osian’s day starts: 0705
Osian’s day finishes: 1420
Number of stages: 4
Competitive distance: 39.02 miles (62.80km)
Total distance: 153.58 miles (247.16km)
Longest stage: SS16/18 Pratdip 11.99 miles (19.30km)
Shortest stage: SS17/19 Duesaigües 7.51 miles (12.10km)
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: 61
British Rally Championship event wins: 5*
British Rally Championship results: 2nd(2013/14), 3rd(2012)
World Rally Championship starts: 9
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 RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada
October 13-16
Based: Salou
Surface: gravel/asphalt
Stages: 19
Competitive distance: 199.51 miles (321.08km)
Total distance: 856.48 miles (1,378.31km)
Website: www.rallyracc.com
RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada Itinerary
Thursday October 13
Shakedown, Salou 1.84 miles (2.97km) 0800
Ceremonial start, Salou 1315
SS1 Barcelona 1.98 miles (3.20km) 1806
Friday October 14
SS2 Caseres 1 7.76 miles (12.50km) 1008
SS3 Bot 1 4.03 miles (6.50km) 1036
SS4 Terra Alta 1 24.20 miles (38.95km) 1111
Service Ascó 1211
SS5 Caseres 2 7.76 miles (12.50km) 1418
SS6 Bot 2 4.03 miles (6.50km) 1446
SS7 Terra Alta 2 24.20 miles (38.95km) 1521
Service PortAventura 1721
Saturday October 15
SS8 Vilaplana 3.90 miles (6.28km) 0810
SS9 Alcover-Capafonts 1 12.38 miles (19.93km) 0849
SS10 Querol 1 13.21 miles (21.26km) 1021
SS11 El Montmell 1 15 miles (24.14km) 1103
Service PortAventura 1231
SS12 Alcover-Capafonts 2 12.38 miles (19.93km) 1357
SS13 Querol 2 13.21 miles (21.26km) 1529
SS14 El Montmell 2 15 miles (24.14km) 1611
SS15 Salou 1.39 miles (2.24km) 1800
Service PortAventura 1820
Sunday October 16
SS16 Pratdip 1 11.99 miles (19.30km) 0724
SS17 Duesaigües 1 7.51 miles (12.10km) 0813
Service PortAventura 0905
SS18 Pratdip 2 11.99 miles (19.30km) 1039
SS19 Duesaigües 2 7.51 miles (12.10km) 1208
Service PortAventura 1318
Finish Podium Salou 1341
RallyRACC Catalunya-Costa Daurada media contact:
Lluïsa Torras
lluisa.torras@racc.es
+34 618 739 739
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
Osian’s guide to 2016
Osian and Dale will contest five rounds of the World Rally Championship in the Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy. Here’s the details and an Osian download on the big five.
Been and gone…
Rally Portugal
May 19-22
Based: Matosinhos
Surface: gravel
Osian outings: 2 (2015, retired – mechanical; 2016 1stin 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, 2ndJunior WRC; 2016 2ndin 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.
Happening now…
Rally of Spain
October 13-16
Based: Salou
Surface: gravel/asphalt
Osian outings: 0
Osian says: “Two rallies in one when we get to the final event in Catalunya. The first day is on the gravel, which looks to be fairly similar in places to Portugal, but then it’s a weekend on the asphalt. The Tarmac stages are all really nice and now some of the most famous in the world. Generally, they’re double-width roads which flow quite nicely and allow you to carry good speed.
“Like the four events before Spain, I can’t wait to get there and try them out for myself!”
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
