24 November / By David Ferguson
To watch the emotional interview with the winners, and for some of the weekend’s top thrills and spills, visit – https://www.facebook.com/RogerAlbertClark/videos/1378114093964034
Third time lucky for Pryce as he claims 2025 RAC title
Welsh duo Osian Pryce and Dale Furniss proved the best of the best in the 2025 Roger Albert Clark Rally, coming home after a mammoth five-day event in first place by just two minutes and 39 seconds.
Osian had bid for glory in both 2021 and 2023, but a lost wheel forced his retirement after 27 stages in 2021 and he and Rhodri Evans were forced to retire halfway through with a mechanical problem two years ago.
This time, despite facing ice – which contributed to a spin and minute delay on the last stage in Wales – as well as snow, rain and the occasional blue sky, nothing could catch the Ford Escort 1800 MKII of Price and Furniss as the rally roared from Wales to Carlisle, over the Scottish border and through the forests of Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and on to Kielder, and then finishing back in Cumbria this afternoon.
Incredible array of cars for all motor enthusiasts
The array of historic vehicles in the 2025 event was incredible from Vauxhall Astra and Novas, Minis and Datsuns to Talbot Sunbeams, Sambas and Avengers; from Sierra Cosworths, Opel Kadetts, Porsches and Saabs to Volvos, MGZRs, BMWs, Alfa Romeos and Seats. And of course the familiar, Subarus, Landrovers and Ford Fiestas and Escorts. There was certainly something to jog everyone’s memories from years gone by.
And it was the Escorts that took top billing when it came to the competitive end of the rally, Pryce and Furniss proving the most consistent through 35 stages in three countries across five days, but with eight other Escorts for company in the top ten.
Paul Barrett and Gordon Noble were hot on their tail for most of it, also in a Ford Escort 1800 MKII, while Greg McKnight and Harry Marchbank produced a stunning performance across the five days in their Escort Mk2 to take third and win the Open title, just three minutes ten seconds off Pryce and Furniss. They were just three seconds off winning the final stage, The Bigger One, but that was close enough for them to pip final stage winners Matt Edwards and Sion Williams to the podium.
Higgins proves mettle with fine run in TR7
The only cars to mix it up with the Escorts in the top ten were the Triumph TR7 V8 of Mark Higgins and Carl Williamson – the three-times British Rally Champion delighting spectators with the old TR7’s competitiveness as it roared to seventh – and the Volvo 262C of Swedes Arne Rådström and Kent-Ola Björklund, who came in an impressive ninth.
