Osian Pryce returned to the British Rally Championship with a bang and yet again showed his undoubted talent by securing a strong second overall on last weekend’s Visit Conwy Cambrian Rally.

The Llandudno based event was also the opening round of the Motorsport UK, Pirelli Welsh National Rally Championship and BTRDA series.

The event offered the 100 crews, some 42 miles of fast and furious action in the tight twisty North Wales forests of Crafnant, Elsi, Gwydir and the notoriously difficult Penmachno forest, plus the twisty tarmac road around the Llandudno coastal headland of the Great Orme.

Aberangell based Pryce together, with new co driver Noel O’Sullivan in the Omologato, Pirelli, G&M Pryce backed Hyundai i20 R5 were among a strong R5 line up.

The duo started has they meant to go on with equal second fastest time on the opening Crafnant stage, by time the cars reached the days only service in Rhos on Sea after four tests, Pryce was still holding second place, just 13 seconds behind reigning champion Matt Edwards.

The afternoon loop of three tests saw Pryce hold off M Sport WRC2 driver Rhys Yates in the factory Fiesta R5 to arrive back in Llandudno in an excellent second overall, some 38 seconds behind Edwards.

Pryce said: “I’m very pleased with the result, I must say a massive thanks to all my sponsors for making this happen, to Melvyn Evans Motorsport and his team for a faultless car.

“I didn’t feel 100 per cent comfortable today and I know there is a lot more to come from me, the hard work starts again now to find the budget for the next round in West Cork.”

Meanwhile Aberdovey’s Tom Cave and Llanfyllin co-driver Dale Furniss battled to sixth despite losing three minutes to a tyre change after clipping a rick in their Hyundai i20 R5

Machynlleth youngster Gethin Price got his Welsh Championship campaign off to an excellent start in the R Keith Price Haulage 1300 Nissan Micra, together with Matt Baddeley on the notes, and produced an excellent drive to finish 30th overall, second in the1400C class and third in the Ravenol Welsh junior championship.

“Its been a very good day, I even put four new Pirelli’ s on the car, rather than my usual second hand tyres.” said Price.

Jonathan Jones together with Machynlleth’s Lewis Griffiths in the hot seat, were another crew to enjoy a good run to 26th overall, fourth in the R2 class in the Fiesta R2, on only his second gravel rally

Sarn resident co-driver Jonny Evans teamed up with Damian Pratts in the Tsalta Motorsport 2.4 Escort RS but their day ended early when they rolled out of the rally on stage two.

The popular co-driver is in for a busy year as he is also teaming up with Andrew Stokes for an assault on the British Historic championships.

Sadly for Newtown’s Alun Horn and Ian Beamond in the two litre Escort RS, they completed all the stages, but were over the time limit at the final control after a last stage maximum.

Welshpool based Zak Hughes and co-driver Will Atkins in a new Philip Paul Car Centre backed Renault Twingo R2 endured a day to forget after they clipped a rock on stage three in Penmachno forest and rolled heavily into the trees to become one of four cars who hit the same rock with similar consequences.

Meanwhile Ian Bainbridge and co-driver Dale Bowen claimed Welsh Championship glory while Machynlleth co-driver Lewis Griffiths joined Jon Jones in ending 26th.

Griffiths said: “We had a really good day and the stages were excellent.”

The next event in the Welsh Rally is the North Wales Rally Services Rally in Dyfi Forest n March 28.