By Paul Evans
Osian Pryce is a surprise entry for the West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages – the rallying finale of 2017, which takes place at the Welsh Motorsports Centre at Pembrey on Saturday 30 December.
The 24-year old Brecon-based driver, who has contested 13 rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship and who led this year’s MSA British Rally Championship at the half way point, will be reunited with his old Ford Fiesta R2 – the car in which he made his class-winning WRC debut in on the 2010 Wales Rally GB.
Despite the Fiesta being a small, relatively underpowered, front-wheel drive car, Pryce has been seeded at number six – ahead of far more superior four-wheel drive Subaru Imprezas and Mitsubishi Lancers!
“It’s nearly eight years since I did my first rally in this Fiesta,” says Price. “It’s a car in which I made my WRC debut in back in 2010 and a car which gave me my first championship title in 2011, so I thought it was about time I took it out again to blow the cobwebs off it!
“It’s always been a good car to me and whilst the event at Pembrey is just for fun, I’ll be trying my best to score a giant-killing result.”
The Carmarthen Motor Club organised event is named in part after Gareth ‘Jaffa’ Roberts – a much loved and highly respected Welsh co-driver whom, at just 24-years old, was killed in a freak accident during the 2012 Targa Florio Rally in Sicily.
Since that tragic day, the Gareth Roberts Memorial Fund has raised many thousands of pounds and helped rally drivers and co-drivers who have been hospitalised or forced to miss work following rally accidents. Jaffa’s brother, Dai Roberts, himself a vastly experienced co-driver, will contest the event driving a Peugeot 205.
Welsh crews dominate the West Wales Rally Spares JAFFA Stages entry list, with last year’s winner Thomas Cooper (co-driven by Ian Davies in a Mitsubishi Evo 8) the top seed, followed by Paul and Mat Fowden (Subaru S11 WRC) and Phil Turner/Simon Anthony (Mitsubishi Evo 9).
Six time MSA Asphalt Rally Champion Damian Cole will drive his Get Connected Escort Mk2, while Jamie Jukes will contest his first rally since his massive accident on the Isle of Man, driving a Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage R5.
The opening stage of the day starts at 09.30 on December 30 – and it’s a must-see event for any Welsh rally fan!