Local star Osian Pryce revved up for glory

The sixth edition of the JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion is ready to burst into this weekend with a record-breaking entry list of drivers from all corners of the continent ready to tackle three days of challenging stages.

The UK’s premier rally event will once again play host to the FIA European Rally Championship as well as the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship and a new addition to the event in 2026, the FIA European Historic Rally Championship for Pre 1992 machines.

In total, three separate rallies will be run across the event from Friday to Sunday to accommodate the packed 149 car entry list, with the International and National events utilising all 16 timed special stages, while the Historic rally will use all but one of the sealed-surface tests across the weekend.

Five-time World Rally Championship event winner Kris Meeke (Andorra) is one of the star names attracted to the closed road challenge. As are ERC front-runners Teemu Suninen (Finland), Andrea Mabellini (Italy), Mikołaj Marczyk (Poland) and Jakub Matulka (Poland).

Two-time Rali Ceredigion winner Osian Pryce, who is from Machynlleth, will be gunning for glory in the British Championship.

The Historic event boasts a line-up spanning the history of the sport, with the likes of the Lancia Stratos, Ford Escort Mk2, BMW M3, Triumph TR7 V8 and Porsche 911 all featuring.

Welshman John Dalton, in the Welsh-built Darrian T90 GTR, heads a National field of local stars including Dylan Davies, Aled Wyn Morgans and Rhys Wyn Davies.

The rally warms up on Thursday, September 3 on the Aberystwyth seafront, with a packed evening including the Rali Show, popular autograph session and ceremonial start – as well as the Rali Engage event, which helps inspire the next generation of motorsport fans and industry leaders.

After shakedown and qualifying stage on Friday morning, the rally blasts into life with two runs through the street stage right in the heart of Aberystwyth.

Then it’s the night-time challenge of Elerch and Blaenmelindwr running under the cloak of darkness to help spice up the proceedings.

Saturday is the big challenge, with eight tests to the east of Aberystwyth featuring bumpy, moorland stages. A loop of three stages featuring Aberffrwd, the daunting Soar y Mynydd test and Cwm Elan is repeated before crews tackle the crowd-pleasing Aberystwyth street stage twice to finish the day.

All eyes will then turn to the finale on Sunday for traditional Welsh countryside stages. Two passes through Gorsgoch and Ty Glyn will help to decide the winners.

The second visit to Ty Glyn for the ERC crews will also be home to the Power Stage, with bonus points on offer for the fastest five drivers before the finish back on Aberystwyth Promenade.

Pryce, top Welsh seed and leader of the British Rally Championship, said: “It’s fantastic to have a home rally that’s part of both the British and European championships and this year’s route again looks challenging.

“There are some new stages and the dark stages look exciting, it’s something I wish we could have more of. Once again there’s a strong entry and the competition level is going to be even higher this year.”

Dalton, top seed in the National rally, said: “It’s always a privilege to compete on such a high-profile, local event like this. It’s a challenging rally and one that’s got something that suits every driver and car. It’s an endurance event and that’s an approach that I love.

“Rali Ceredigion has transformed local opinion around motorsport and there’s a real sense of excitement during the weekend - it’s great that we have an event of this status on our doorstep.”