Osian Pryce romps to Rali Ceredigion victory

Osian Pryce reminded fans why he is the reigning British rally champion by winning the biggest and most prestigious rally in the UK when he romped to victory on the 2023 JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion (2-3 September).

Osian Pryce ‘back home’ in a Volkswagen Polo for this weekend’s Rali Ceredigion

Osian Pryce will lead a star-studded field away at the start of this weekend’s JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion (2-3 September) as the reigning British rally champion contests the event in a Melvyn Evans Motorsport-prepared Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

Osian won the event in 2019 (when it ran for the first time as Wales’ first ever closed road stage rally) driving a Hyundai i20 R5 and finished second (to Hayden Paddon/Jared Hudson) last year in a Polo – and starts this year’s event as number one seed.

Osian Pryce narrowly misses out on a top 10 finish at the ultra-fast Rally Liepāja

After almost an hour and a half of flat-out competition, Osian Pryce finished just 32.1 seconds away from a top 10 finish on the Tet Rally Liepāja in only his second FIA European Rally Championship event in a Škoda Fabia Rally2.

The changing conditions, which switched from dry and dusty to wet and slippery, weren’t helpful as Pryce tried to find the best loose-surface set-up on his new car, yet the Michelin Talent Factory driver was still able to set a pace that was only one second per kilometre slower that the regular ERC drivers – which is a remarkable feat, given that he has had so little seat time in the MAPO Motorsport-prepared car and that this was his first rally in Latvia for 13 years.

Osian Pryce returns to Latvia – the country where he started rallying as a teenager – for Rally Liepāja

Osian Pryce was just 16-year’s old when he began what has become a long and successful rallying career in Latvia – and now, 14 years later, he will return to the Baltic country to tackle the Tet Rally Liepāja (17-18 June) as part of his 2023 FIA European Rally Championship campaign.

The reigning British rally champion made his rallying debut on the 2009 Rally Kalnamuiza in a Renault Clio, taking advantage of the opportunity to drive in a stage rally in Latvia a year younger than he could do at the time in the UK.

Pryce sticks to the game plan with pitch-perfect FIA European Rally Championship debut in Poland

The aim was to finish the ORLEN 79th Rally Poland – after all, this was Osian Pryce’s first rally for seven months, in a new team, in a new car and with a new co-driver – and he achieved precisely that with a pitch-perfect, controlled, intelligent and drama free run to 16th on his FIA European Rally Championship debut (out of 58 registered ERC drivers).

As the reigning British rally champion, Pryce is by nature an extremely competitive sportsman who competes to win. But on this occasion learning about his brand new Škoda Fabia Rally2, building a rapport with new co-driver Stéphane Prévot and getting to know his new MAPO Motorsport team were the key objectives – and that would be best achieved by completing all 16 stages and 113 stage miles (182kms).

British rally champion Osian Pryce to make FIA European Rally Championship debut in a Škoda Fabia Rally2

Reigning British rally champion Osian Pryce will make his debut in the FIA European Rally Championship driving a Škoda Fabia Rally2 on at least three rounds of this year’s international series.

The 30-year-old Welshman will start his campaign at Rally Poland (20-21 May) – an event he has done three times before when it was a round of the FIA World Rally Championship.

He will then contest Tet Rally Liepāja (17-18 June), returning to compete in Latvia for the first time since 2010, having made his rallying debut on the country’s Rally Kalnamuiza as a 16-year-old.

Osian wins the 2022 British Rally Championship title after victory on the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire

Osian Pryce has been crowned the 2022 British rally champion – winning the title for the first time following victory on the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

British rally champion crowned in Yorkshire

The North York Moors proved a happy hunting ground for Welsh star Osian Pryce as he clinched the Motorsport UK British Championship with victory on the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

The 29-year old from Machynlleth piloted his Volkswagon Polo GTR5 to fastest stage times on the opening four of six timed forest stages to emerge over 20 seconds clear of his main championship rival Keith Cronin, from Bantry in Ireland.

Welsh duo to continue bid to conquer Yorkshire then British rallying

Motorsport UK British Championship leader Osian Pryce made the perfect start in his quest to win a maiden title by taking an early lead over main rival Keith Cronin in the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire.

Welshman Pryce, driving a Volkswagon Polo GTR5, finished the opening night stage of round six on the North York Moors 5.2 seconds ahead of four times previous champion Keith Cronin, from Ireland in a similar vehicle.

Osian retakes British Rally Championship lead after ‘near perfect’ Rali Ceredigion

Osian Pryce has retaken the lead of the British Rally Championship after a ‘near perfect’ result on the Get Connected Rali Ceredigion in his Demon Tweeks-backed Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.

With just two rounds of the series remaining – the Trackrod Rally Yorkshire (23/24 September) and the Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally (29 October) – the move back to the top of the drivers’ standings comes at a crucial time in his bid to become British champion for the first time.