Bilham’s bid to stay on top in Wales

Fiesta ST Trophy leader Sam Bilham searches for podium at this weekend’s Nicky Grist Stages

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Chicane Media

Bingley rally ace Sam Bilham resumes his Fiesta ST Trophy assault at the Nicky Grist Stages this weekend and hopes to retain the lead of the single make series with a repeat of his Carlisle Stages podium result.  Holding a slender three point lead going into the sixth round of the championship, the Reis Motorsport Insurance backed pilot is heading to the Builth Wells event in command of close fought Trophy and will be fighting hard to remain in that spot at the finish ramp on Saturday (9^th July) evening.

The 19 year old West Yorkshire ace has enjoyed a one hundred per cent finishing record so far this year and will be looking to maintain that achievement in the forestry stages which surround the Epynt Military ranges on the hills of Mid-Wales.  Still acclimatising to his new steed, Bilham has it all to do if he is to stand any chance of taking the Fiesta ST Trophy spoils at the end of the year and will be joined by co-driver Graham Wild thanks to regular co-driver Richard Crozier being unavailable.

Still to win a round of the championship, Bilham scored his best result of the season at last month’s Carlisle Stages with a second place. Whilst his inaugural win has eluded the youngster, he believes the stages in Wales, made famous by the last round of the World Rally Championship event Rally GB, could just be the place to break his duck.  

“I love the forests that this event uses and although I’m still getting used to the car and left hand drive, I think I’m in the best position that I’ve been in all year to make headway on the leader board and bag a win” says a confident Bilham.  “It’s rallying, and of course anything can happen but we have made a few adjustments to the set up in the car recently which makes it feel a lot more stable so it’s time to push a little harder and see how well we can do”.

But there is an extra challenge for the BTRDA crews as the event is joined by the MSA British Rally Championship crews as well. “We are starting at car 102 which is around 30 or 40 places further back than normal so as much as I`d like to push during the day, I need to be conscience that the roads wont quite be in the condition that we are used to so that will be a factor.  It could be survival of the fittest during the day so we will find a comfortable pace over the opening loop and see how we are getting on. I think it could be the most competitive event of the calendar so far so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in to these legendary stages”.

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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