Fresh from securing his second British Rally Championship title in dramatic fashion, Welsh rally star Osian Pryce is heading to New Zealand with his sights firmly set on winning the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally.
Pryce clinched the 2026 British Rally Championship on 24 October, defeating Max McRae by just 1.2 seconds in a thrilling final-round showdown at the Cambrian Rally in Wales.
The victory secured his second British title, following his maiden championship triumph in 2022, and adds to an impressive rallying résumé that includes a win at the prestigious Roger Albert Clark Rally.
Now, the Welshman is preparing for a completely different challenge, tackling seven days of demanding New Zealand gravel roads in one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most prestigious marathon rallies.
“It’s been on my bucket list for a long time. I’ve heard a lot of good things about New Zealand roads and had plenty of positive feedback,” said Pryce.
“We’ve had a lot of success on the longer events. The RAC is something we’ve ticked off in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Silver Fern is logically the next one for us.”
Having also contested the East African Safari Classic Rally twice, Pryce is no stranger to the demands of marathon rallying. However, New Zealand’s distinctive gravel stages will present an entirely new challenge.
For the Silver Fern, Pryce will reunite with Wales Motorsport, the team behind his successful 2025 Roger Albert Clark Rally campaign. The same car has since been campaigned in European historic rallying before being shipped to New Zealand.
With the team bringing previous Silver Fern experience, Pryce believes they have the ingredients to challenge for outright honours.
“We’re coming there to try and win. It’s an event I’d like to win myself, and I feel we’re in a good position, provided everything is reliable and survives the seven days.
“We’ve had a lot of success this year, so why not aim for another win and hopefully get a first Silver Fern victory under our belts?”
Despite his confidence, the newly crowned British champion is under no illusion about the challenge ahead, particularly against experienced New Zealand competitors on their home roads.
“There are a lot of experienced guys and local drivers who will push us very hard, I’m sure.
“Priority number one is getting to the end of every day without trouble. If we can do that, hopefully we won’t be too far away by the end of the seventh day.”
With a second British championship secured and another successful international season behind him, Pryce hopes to finish 2026 by adding one more major achievement to his career.
“It’s a big investment and a lot of effort to come out and do the rally, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Everything is working well with the car, and we’ve spent a lot of time in it this year, so hopefully it’ll all pay off.”
The 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally takes place from 27 November to 4 December, attracting competitors from around the world for an extended test of speed, endurance and reliability on New Zealand’s renowned gravel roads.
Header Photo: Osian Pryce Rally
