Rally ace Roger Chilman ready for BTRDA Gold Star Championship D-Day (From Hereford Times)

Herefordshire's rally ace Roger Chilman ready for BTRDA Championship D-Day in Cambrian Rally

5:10am Saturday 20th October 2012 in Sport By Ian Morgan

RALLY ace Roger Chilman admits that local knowledge should give his rival the edge in the race for the BTRDA Gold Star Championship.

Chilman, Ruthin’s Hugh Hunter and Ludlow’s Shaun Gardener are in a three-way fight to clinch the title in Saturday’s final race - the Cambrian Rally.

One of the rally’s stages actually goes past Hunter’s house - and Chilman thinks this could be an advantage to his rival.

“The last time I did this rally, I think I finished third so we need to improve upon that,” said Chilman, who lives in Withington.

“Hugh is fairly local and part of the stages actually goes past his house. He has the local knowledge and that probably gives him the edge.

“I have not done it for three or four years. If Hugh comes second then I have to win the event.

“If he’s second and I am third, then I think he wins the championship. Shaun will be hoping that we both fail to finish and then he will win the title.”

Chilman, 33, won the championship in 2005 during his first full season of rallying. He has twice finished runner-up.

Chilman and co-driver Bryan Thomas, from Shobdon, had a slow start to this season’s eight-race series in their Subaru Impreza WRC.

“We were fifth in the first event and then had two nonfinishes - so after three events, we were very much on the back foot.

“We then had a win, a second place, a win and another win so we need to continue in that form. To go on such a run has been fantastic.”

Chilman praised his co-driver Thomas, also a member of Herefordshire Motor Club.

He added: “It’s not easy to be champion in this sport and I have been trying to win it ever since I won my first title in 2005.”