Welsh pace inspires Osian for next season

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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

media@walesrallygb.com

+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

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Quotes

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.
Osian Pryce