Perfect podium for Bilham on tough Carlisle Rally

Fiesta ST Trophy frontrunner Sam Bilham retains series lead with impressive second place

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Chicane Media

Bingley rally ace Sam Bilham scored a season-best result last weekend as he took second in the Fiesta ST Trophy and class N3 on the DMACK Carlisle Stages. The Reis Motorsport backed 19 year old maintained his one hundred per cent finish record this season and retains the lead of the hard fought championship with a narrow three point margin to his nearest rival.

The fifth round of the BTRDA Rally Series organised championship took place in the notorious Kielder forest which is infamous for its large ditches and deceptive blind crests. Coupled with their fast nature, the rougher than usual forest tracks are renowned for causing punctures and even the best drivers in the business have yet to master the unique layout. This would be the first time in the Scottish Border stages for Bilham and West Yorkshireman faced a significant challenge if he was to net a podium result that would be vital to his championship hopes.

Co-driven by Richard Crozier, Bilham was understandably slow out of the blocks on the opening stage of the event, preferring to acclimatise himself to the tough Kielder forest before picking up the pace at a later stage in the day. His strategy paid dividends and with the day consisting of just five long stages, Bilham emerged from the opening loop in third place and closing in on the runner-up spot. And close-in he did, taking second place on the penultimate stage of the day to take a season-best result on his first attempt at the event.

“That was one of the toughest events I’ve done but its satisfying to have taken second on my first visit to Kielder”saidBilham. 

“The stages were just as I had imagined and they were very technical in parts so it was really satisfying to get to the end of them unscathed. It was a shame Tim (Rodgers) retired from second after putting a hole in the sump but I’m confident we could have taken the fight for the position over the closing stages of the day.”

Bilham had one eye on the championship as he entered the final stage of the day. “We certainly couldn’t catch the leader on the last test so we backed off to preserve the car and our lead in the series. We didn’t get away without bending a few wheels too so we were lucky. But we are still getting quicker as I learn the car and to come away with second on stages like that feels like a real achievement.”

Bilham is not only leading the Fiesta ST Trophy and Class N3, but is also second in the Junior Driver Award and Production Cup.

The next round of the series, the Nicky Grist Stages takes place in July and utilises the forests around Builth Wells in Wales. 

Sam is supported by Reis Motorsport Insurance, Mechanical Solutions, Pertemps Recruitment, The Next Big Step, Gareth Hooper Motorsport Services, Vital Equipment and The Garage at Stanley Mills. 

For more information on Sam and his rallying career, visit www.sambilham.co.uk

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