PRYCE SET FOR R5 RETURN AFTER SUFFERING INJURY
Wales’ first closed-road event will be the venue for second outing of year
Former British Rally Championship frontrunner Osian Pryce has overcome an injury scare and will contest his first rally in an R5 car in almost two years when he starts Rali Bae Ceredigion next month.
Pryce broke his collarbone, his right shoulder blade and one of his ribs in a mountain bike accident in France last month, but has recovered enough to be able to start just his second rally of the season.
His last competitive appearance was on Rally North Wales in a historic Ford Escort Mk2, while his last run in an R5 was in a Mitsubishi Mirage on the
2018 Cambrian Rally.
The Melvyn Evans Motorsport Hyundai i20 R5 will be all new to Pryce having previously driven a Ford Fiesta R5 in the BRC.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Pryce told MN.
“I’ve said my motto four weeks ago was ‘make it happen’, and I’m pretty much two-thirds of the way there. If I get to the start line then I’ll have achieved what I wanted to achieve.
“If I get to the finish line in no pain I’ll be happy, but I’ve got to think when I get on that start line and look to be
‘Mr Determined’ and ‘Mr Competitive’ as well [that] I’ll have to keep my sensible hat on and remind myself I’ve not been in these cars for two years and never driven this [Hyundai] before.”
Pryce is relishing the return to four-wheel drive after planning on doing this year’s BRC but falling short.
“I’ve been trying to get back to four-wheel drive all year really, but it just hasn’t quite come off so I’ve laid low,” he added.
“I think a lot of people have thought ‘aw, he’s given up now’ but it’s very much the opposite of that. I’ve just been working quietly and waiting until everything is confirmed before putting any positive news out there.”