LAST year’s winner Osian Pryce is gearing up to contest the 2018 Rally North Wales in an Escort Mk2.

Co-driven by Dale Furniss, Pryce will drive a full historic-specification rear-wheel drive BDA-engined Escort Mk2, from Suffolk specialists RallyXtreme.

It couldn’t be more different from the state-of-the-art four-wheel drive Hills Ford Fiesta R5 that the 29-year old local driver won Rally North Wales in last year, as the current leader of the Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship returns to the series for sideways fun.

“The first rally car I ever drove was a Mk2 Escort, as a 14th birthday present,” said Pryce. “It was owned by my father and grandfather, and it was nothing like the build quality and power of the RallyXtreme car that I will be using on Rally North Wales, of course.

“Apart from driving a Tuthill Porsche as a rally driving instructor at the Below Ice Driving Experience in Sweden, I haven’t driven a rear-wheel drive car since, so it’s all going to be a bit alien and a new challenge.

“We’re doing the rally for a bit of fun, as it’s my local event. The route has been changed slightly this year, so one of the stages comes within 150 yards of my parent’s house - which is the closest it’s been for a number of years. It literally couldn’t get any closer to the front door, so it was an event I really couldn’t miss.

“There are some very good and experienced drivers competing in the MSA British Historic Rally Championship, so if we can get close to them towards the end of the event I’ll be happy. But it’s all about going out and having some sideways fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Pryce contested the recent Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally as a late entry in a Spencer Sport Mitsubishi Mirage R5 and scored maximum points in the Pirelli MSA Welsh Rally Championship.

He is not contesting the whole series, but with the Mid-Wales Stages postponed, because of the snow, Pryce finds himself still leading the Championship heading into this event.

Pryce, from Aberangell, is supported by G&M Pryce Ltd, Pirelli, Steve Harkness Competition Tyres, Hills Ford and Sport Wales, and is an MSA Academy driver.

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