Rali Ceredigion

TER – Tour European Rally crews fight at the forefront in JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion

02.09.2023

Pryce opens the gap over Evans and Williams in the afternoon.

 

The opening day of JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion offered a fantastic show over the fast tarmac roads in the Aberystwyth countryside.

 

2022 British Rally Champion Osian Pryce and former WRC codriver Stéphane Prevot are the overnight leaders. After starting the day with a small off in SS1, the 2019 edition's winner reacted immediately, setting fastest time in the second test and clinching the lead. In the afternoon he showed the great potential of his Volkswagen Polo, winning another 3 stages and stretching his lead to 42.7 seconds.

 

Local hero Meirion Evans, with Jonathan Jackson, is second in a sister car. Fastest in the opening stage, he fought back after a puncture in the second test, winning SS3, the TER Power Stage and climbing back in second. An afternoon push, with the pinnacle of two wins on both the Aberyswyth seaside stage runs, sees him retain 16.7 seconds on his pursuer.

 

On the last provisional podium step, Hyundai I20N Rally2 of James Williams and Dai Roberts. After a troubled morning, the crew found consistency in the afternoon loop by setting three consecutive second fastest times behind Pryce, keeping the battle for silver well alive in Wales.

 

Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy's 20-year old driver Kyle McBride, codriven by Liam McIntyre, took his Ford Fiesta Rally4 to a clean sweep of fastest times in TER Junior. In a sister car, team mate Aoife Raftery, with Geraldine McBride, is second in category and leads the TER Ladies' Trophy.