HEREFORD farmer Roger Chilman returned to competitive rallying after a long absence, by finishing ninth overall and sixth in class at the Rallynuts Severn Valley Stages.

Chilman has purchased the ex Merion Evans Escort RS1800 and had Merion's co-driver Iestyn Williams alongside him.

The event, which attracted a top quality field of 95 cars, offered 44 miles in the forests of Ctychan,Radnor Cefn and Monument Hill from its base in the Royal Welsh Showground and Builth Wells.

"It's great to be back, there is no way I'll be trying to catch Nick (Elliott) or Jason (Pritchard), but if I can be setting times close to Steve Bennett, Rudi Lancaster and Simon Webster I'll be happy."

"I am happy enough set a few good times, but I am rusty we changed things on the car as the day went on,

"But it will take time to get up to speed, as I am very busy with work so getting events under my belt is difficult right now."

Fellow Hereford driver Kenny Davies was in a KGD backed Volvo Amazon, with Alan Jones on the notes.

"However, gearbox failure after stage one brought retirement."

Meanwhile, county driver Ollie Bennett was at the launch of the new rallycross circuit at Silverstone.

Bennett was in his Xite High Performance Energy Drink backed Ford Fiesta Supercar, which is run by Hereford's Quick Motorsport.

"We had a good day at the opening of the rallycross track, I was lucky to be one of the first cars around the track," said Bennett.

"It's going to be good for people to watch here, plenty to see, the jump is big together with a tight and twisty track.

"There will be a lot of overtaking but also quite easy to make a mistake but I think there will be some good racing to be had."