3 days ago
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Osian Pryce looks to give top seeds a run for their money in Ulster Rally
Pryce has put a deal together with C&M Motorsport to tackle the Northern Ireland Motor Club event in a Hyundai i20 N Rally2 alongside experienced Irish navigator, Andy Hayes.
Given the competitiveness of the South Korean supermini, the expectation is that Pryce can ask all the right questions of top seed Callum Devine (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) as well as David Kelly and Darren Gass (Volkswagen Polo GTI R5) and Kevin Eves (Ford Fiesta Rally2).
Pryce is no stranger to visiting the top step of the Ulster Rally podium having conquered the now defunct Rally NI element back in 2013 using a Citroen DS3 R3. It was not deemed an outright triumph, however, due to international top seed Garry Jennings traversing the competitive route in a quicker combined time aboard a Subaru Impreza S12B World Car.
'We have always been in the mix and on the pace at the Ulster - it is one of my favourite events and I was lucky to win Rally NI in 2013, but it was such a long time ago,' said Pryce.
'Since then, the rally has moved to new locations several times and I have not done a lot in the area in which it is now based apart from one stage from 2021 I recognise because it was the one that I crashed on. This time, however, it is going to run in a different direction.
'It is a good rally but as for our chances I am not really sure how we will get on – the car is new, but it should be good and, so far, everything is being done in the proper, professional way. Adding someone into the mix like Andy is going to really help me as well. All the key ingredients are there, so we can just focus on the job in hand and try to enjoy ourselves.'
Pryce last featured at the Ulster Rally four years ago and came within touching distance of clinching the British Rally Championship crown only to retire on the penultimate test.
His demise handed a third consecutive title to fellow Welshman Matt Edwards – a first for the series – before putting the record straight 12 months later with Noel O'Sullivan's help.
'The Ulster Rally is one of those events that is renowned for its challenging stages and its incredible atmosphere,' said Pryce who will immediately return home from the Ulster and turn his focus to the British and European Rally Championship counting Rali Ceredigion.
'C&M and I had a chat and we managed to come to an agreement that suited us both – it made a lot of sense, really – which means that I get a bit of time in the car for Ceredigion, but also they get the Hyundai out for the Ulster, which is their priority as it is a round of the Irish Tarmac Championship. That was the reason for doing the Ulster – it works both ways.'
