Pryce wins World Rally Championship’s DDFT title
16.10.16
News release
Pryce wins World Rally Championship’s DDFT title
Welshman Osian Pryce won the 2016 Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy with a brilliant high-pressure drive in Spain.
The Rally of Spain finished after a nail-biting climax in Salou this afternoon (Sunday).
Pryce and Finland’s Max Vatanen went into today’s final four stages dead level on points, but it was Pryce who emerged ahead of the son of 1981 World Rally Champion Ari Vatanen on points.
Pryce’s hopes of victory on the rally itself were lost on the opening day, when a misfire slowed his Ford Fiesta R2 dramatically. Despite that problem, Osian and co-driver Dale Furniss kept their composure, absorbed enormous pressure and put together a fantastic recovery drive to bounce back from 10thto fifth, albeit with the help of some retirements from other crews.
None of that matters to Osian, however, who is currently residing on top of the world.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Osian said, “and I don’t think it will sink in for quite a while! This sport can be so cruel at times, I was on the floor on Friday – I couldn’t believe we’d come so close and it looked like we were going to lose it. But we picked ourselves up and got on with it and now look: we’re champions!
“I’m just delighted with this championship, it even sounds strange to be saying things like that! People really recognise this as the place where up-and-coming talent comes from, so to take the title across five rallies which are so different in nature is absolutely brilliant!
“I have to say, we were quite steady through the final stage. When we got to the final roundabout, the one where you’re supposed to do a big slide around there – we were so steady. Getting across the finish line was the biggest moment of my career. It’s unbelievable. And what’s better is that everybody was there, the whole family – everybody who has believed in me for so long and helped make this happen. I hope this title goes someway to repaying them!”
Malcolm Wilson OBE M-Sport managing director said: “We’ve been very impressed with Osian and Dale this year. They’ve shown plenty of speed and consistency to win rounds outright and now take the title in what’s been another incredibly competitive season in the Fiestas. I’m very much looking forward to seeing what they can do next season.”
Dick Cormack DMACK managing director said: “This has been such a close season in DDFT – and an absolute thriller of a final round. Congratulations to Osian and Dale, they’ve been right at the sharp end of the pace all year and they deserve this title.”
Today was…
Osian’s day in detail. His times against his DDFT rivals:
SS16: 2ndfastest (9thin DDFT) enjoyed this sunrise stage
SS17: fastest (7th in DDFT) perfect run through a great stage
SS18: 4thfastest (5thin DDFT) driven with championship in mind
SS19: 4thfastest (5thin DDFT) WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Weather:
Today: sunny, 12-16 degrees
Next time…
It’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB time.
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.
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.
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
