Osian ready for Rali Ceredigion
31 August 2023
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.
The 30-year old Machynlleth born driver returns for a third attempt at the event this weekend, driving the sister car in which he won last year’s British title in – although the event, held on technical and twisty country roads in and around the Cambrian Mountains, will be Osian’s first rally on asphalt since the 2022 Rali Ceredigion twelve months ago.
To reacquaint himself with the surface and the Polo, the Michelin Talent Factory driver completed a short pre-event test at the Bont Dolebolion Rally Stage. He was accompanied by co-driver Stéphane Prévot, who had made the journey from his home in Belgium to mid-Wales by train.
And as Osian explains, it is thanks to the overwhelming response by local businesses that has provided the budget for him contest this weekend’s event – so he’s out to put on a good show for them and the many spectators that will be heading to Rali Ceredigion.
“I’m looking forward to this weekend’s Rali Ceredigion,” says Osian.
“The build-up to the rally has been a lot more relaxing than it was last year, when the British Rally Championship title was at stake.
“I’ve won Rali Ceredigion once and finished second last year, so I’m under no pressure and I’m just going to make the most of the opportunity and go out and enjoy it.
“It’s also nice to be back driving the Volkswagen Polo. Our short pre-event test went well – I felt immediately back home and like I’d never been out of the car. The test road was very slippery, but it provided valuable seat time and hopefully there will be a lot more grip come the rally itself.
“We wouldn’t be starting in Aberystwyth this weekend if it wasn’t for the support of local individuals and companies who have stepped in to support us after our social media post the other day, and I was overwhelmed by the response.
“We’ve ended up with a great number of company logos on the car and it’s nice to engage with so many local businesses – many of whom will be out watching this weekend and supporting us from the spectator areas. I’ll certainly be out to put on a good show for them.”
This year’s two-day 100 stage mile Rali Ceredigion starts on Saturday 2 September with a loop of three stages in the morning, a lunchtime service halt, a repeat of the same three stages in the afternoon, service and two runs through an Aberystwyth street stage in the evening (totalling 55 stage miles).
Day two takes place on Sunday 3 September and contains a loop of three stages in the morning, a lunchtime service halt and a repeat of the three stages in the afternoon (totalling 45 stage miles), before the ceremonial finish on Aberystwyth Promenade.
Pryce is supported by Michelin Motorsport, as a part of the Talent Factory programme, Demon Tweeks, Bell Racing helmets, OMP race suits, Hills Automotive, DL Jones Pontrobert Ltd (coach and taxi hire), MotoFit (performance training), Redkite Glass, Cwmni Diogel (Security and Event Management), Griffiths Graphics, Kitchen Door Changer, Kevin Williams Plant Hire, Bysiau Windy Corner Coaches, M Davies Plumbing & Heating, Jenkins Detailing, Speedy Sofas, VWTS Upgrades, Gorsaf Betrol Tymawr/Rheidol, and his own family-run specialist building firm G+M Pryce.