Welsh pace inspires Osian for next season
30.10.16
News release
Welsh pace inspires Osian for next season
Osian Pryce’s challenge for Wales Rally GB glory ended early today with a hole in the radiator on his Ford Fiesta R5 – but nothing could dim the Welsh star’s enthusiasm for the speed he’s shown on his home round of the World Rally Championship.
Competing in the WRC’s main support series – WRC2 – for the first time, Osian and co-driver Dale Furniss achieved their aim of setting times faster than anybody else in a Fiesta R5.
After winning this year’s WRC-based Drive DMACK Fiesta Trophy, Osian had hoped to round his season off with a debut top-six in WRC2. He was on track for that result right up until he noticed the rising water temperature aboard his Fiesta.
He tried to repair the damage to the radiator using chewing gum, but it was impossible and retirement came at the side of the road.
“Of course it’s disappointing not to finish,” he said. “Dale and I worked on the car and did what we could, but we couldn’t stop the water coming out, even though the hole in the radiator was tiny – it must have been a stone or something which damaged a fin in the radiator. There was no other damage to the front of the car.
“We came here to see what we could do against some genuinely world-class competition in the WRC2 category. All you can really do is measure yourself against the crews in the same car as you and, I have to say, I’m really proud of the speed Dale and I achieved on our first outing in a class where the other guys have been fighting all season.
“We’ve had some issues along the way and without them I think we’d have been the fastest Ford reasonably comfortably. Next year, our DDFT win gives us two World Rally Championship prize drives in a Ford Fiesta R5 car and coming out here and pitching ourselves against the best in the world has really given me good confidence.
“If I can say I’m really disappointed about one thing in particular it’s not getting through Dyfi yesterday on the second loop. We had a problem with the power-steering, which was bad enough, but when I got to the end and was told we’d been two seconds per mile faster than [WRC2 winner] Esapekka Lappi in the first split, I was totally gutted. I couldn’t help but think about what we might have achieved without that problem.
“Even today, when we were having a clutch problem which seriously hampered us in the slower corners, I was pleased with the pace we showed on those three stages.
“On reflection, I’m delighted with what we achieved. We have shown we have the speed to fight in WRC2 and that makes me even more determined and excited about next season.”
Today was…
Osian’s day in detail. His times against his WRC2 rivals:
SS17: 9thfastest (6thin WRC2) clutch problem
SS18: 10thfastest (6thin WRC2) couple of overshoots
SS19: 6thfastest (6thin WRC2) more clutch trouble
SS20: retired before the stage, hole in radiator
Weather:
Today: overcast, temperatures between 12-15 degrees
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: 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/asphalt
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 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.
Media contact:
Sandra Evans
+44 7887 693993
sandra@wordspr.com
