MACHYNLLETH’S Osian Price lies third overall in a Mk2 Escort at the end of the opening night of the RAC Roger Albert Clark Rally after four times stages.

He is some 33 seconds behind Jason Pritchard from Builth Wells in the Scott Williams Motorsport Escort Mk2 whilst the leading driver is Paul Barrett with a 14 second advantage ahead of Pritchard.

Patrick Walsh, of Aberystwyth, co-driving managed a mile before a substantial off rolling twice in the Escort Mk2 whilst Steve Mc Phee, from Ponterwydd, co-driving went off on the same bend on the opening stage of the event SS1 Newcasleton in Scotland.

Today sees an early start with a further eight stages in the Kielder forest complex. Saturday will see the crews again cross the border into Scotland with classic stages such as Ae, Twiglees, Greskine and Craik which are all used twice.

The route then heads into Mid Wales with six timed stages on the Sunday afternoon taking in Dyfnant, Gartheiniog and Dyfi again all used twice with the second pass through the forests in darkness.

The final day on Monday heads into West Wales with the classic stages of Walters Arena near Neath, the Glasfynydd stage above Llandovery not used since 1982 on the RAC Rally of old but this year is a non spectator stage. The Crychan stage again near Llandovery are all used twice with Crychan 2 being the final stage of the five day event.

From there the crews head to Carmarthen and the finish where a parade lap will be held driving around the velodrome and the podium in the town centre.