The Pryce Is Right in Down Rally Thriller
Osian Pryce returned to winning ways in Northern Ireland with a composed victory at the R Kings Down Rally, as the Welshman and co-driver James Morgan sharpened their form ahead of Rali Ceredigion.
Thirteen years after his last win on Northern Ireland soil, Pryce was back on the top step after a rally that demanded precision, patience and pace in equal measure. The Toyota Yaris Rally2 crew made the perfect start, going fastest through the opening Thornhill stage by 5.3 seconds, but the early lead was short-lived as Jason Dickson and Neil Shanks responded on Hamilton’s Folly.
By the first service halt, Dickson had edged ahead, his advantage growing from just three tenths after Hamilton’s Folly to 3.4 seconds following Tory Brae. Pryce and Morgan, however, found the answer with set-up changes before the loop was repeated. On the second pass of Hamilton’s Folly, Pryce struck back, going fastest and moving 1.1 seconds clear — a lead he would not surrender.
Dickson kept the pressure on all the way to the closing stage and entered the finale seven seconds adrift, but a virtual chicane penalty on the last test stretched the final margin to 35.4 seconds. Even so, the Omagh driver had done enough to secure second place in a strong showing.
Behind the leading pair, Cal McCarthy and Niall Burns delivered a measured drive to claim McCarthy’s first podium finish. The Clonakilty driver brought his Citroen C3 Rally2 home third, 38.9 seconds behind Dickson, while keeping Protyre Asphalt Rally Championship contenders Jason Pritchard/Rob Fagg and Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan at bay.
The wider championship picture added another layer of intrigue. In the Brown & Brown Northern Ireland Rally Championship, the top two positions had already been settled at Rallye Lecale, with Jonathan Greer and Sam Moffett secure, but the fight for third remained very much alive.
Alan Smyth arrived best placed to take that spot, only for an off over a jump on Hamilton’s Folly to end his hopes. That opened the door for 2025 champion Aaron McLaughlin, who moved up into third in the standings.
There was also a breakthrough for Alan Carmichael. Driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2, he claimed top championship points for the first time this season, despite a late charge from local favourite Stuart Biggerstaff. Marty Toner completed the next group home.
Elsewhere, the rally helped bring several title stories into focus. Niall Branniff and Chris Newell were crowned two-wheel-drive champions, Ashleigh Rea finished as the leading lady co-driver after her first full season, and Aaron McFall secured the Junior title.
With the Down Rally complete, attention now switches back to the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge. After the Fivemiletown opener in February, the Trailer Parts & Spares Lakeland Stages will run on Saturday, September 5, with Enniskillen Motor Club accepting entries via www.rallyscore.com.
For championship updates, follow the Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Rally Championship on Facebook.
R Kings Down Rally results (full results via rallyscore.com)
1 Osian Pryce/James Morgan (Toyota Yaris Rally2)
2 Jason Dickson/Neil Shanks (Skoda Fabia Rally2)
3 Cal McCarthy/Niall Burns (Citroen C3 Rally2)
4 Jason Pritchard/Rob Fagg (Toyota Yaris Rally2)
5 Brad Cole/Jamie Vaughan (Ford Fiesta Rally2)
6 Niall Devine/Liam McIntyre (Volkswagen Polo R5)
7 Alan Carmichael/Arthur Kierans (Skoda Fabia Rally2)
8 Stuart Biggerstaff/Anthony Nestor (Volkswagen Polo R5)
9 Marty Toner/Conal McNulty (Ford Fiesta R5)
10 Lee Edwards/Sam Spencer (Ford Escort G3)
Brown & Brown Motorsport UK Northern Ireland Forest Rally Challenge 2026
05 Sep Lakeland Stages
19 Sep Bushwhacker Rally
17 Oct Dogleap Rally