HEREFORDSHIRE farmer Roger Chilman will be taking on the cream of historic rallying at the forthcoming Roger Albert Clark Rally.

The event which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year will see 165 cars line-up on November 23 for the start at Carmarthen Showground.

The bi-annual event is regarded the best historic event in world rallying with crews coming from all over Europe and Kenya.

Such is the popularity its attracted former Citroën and Mini works driver Kris Meeke and current WRC2 front runner Oliver Solberg.

Newly crowned Fuchs British Historic Rally Champions Chilman and co-driver Patrick Walsh will want erase the memories of two years ago when he left the road on an icy bend on the opening test in Kielder and retired on the spot.

But the Withington farmer will certainly have a game plan in the Securcom, Danford, Connop & Sons, Haywood Crushing Demolition, Evans Cleaning, Pirelli backed Escort RS1800.

"I’m Really looking forward to it, the biggest event now in this country,” said Chilman. “Its going to be tricky to find a good pace, it's so easy to push too hard to soon as I found to my cost two years ago.

“Also you have to limit issues and problems. I have both good and bad experiences in recent years, huge thanks to all my sponsors for making it possible for me to be here hopefully I can repay them with a good result."

Ahead of competitors lies 33 timed special stages covering some 350 stage miles in a total route of 1,220 miles over the five-day event.

The opening two legs concentrate on the classic Welsh stages before a long Friday night road section to Carlisle the rallies base for the final three days.

Saturday sees a long day in the forests of the Scottish Borders before the final two days based in and around the notorious Kielder Forest before the Monday evening finish in Carlisle.

The final stage of the rally is a mammoth 38.92 miles, the longest stage in British rallying for over 40 years, and will run in the Pundershaw area of Kielder with the quickest cars taking in excess of 40 minutes to complete it.

BTRDA Two Wheel Drive champions Ben Friend and Cliffy Simmons have a new Allglass Anglia backed Escort RS1800 and after a superb fourth overall on the event in 2021 the pair will be looking to emulate there 2021 result.

Former Lombard RAC rally veterans Theo Bengry and Les Forsbrook line up in the Leominster Car Auctions, Quick Motorsport run Opel Ascona 400.

Another Quick Motorsport run Escort is in the hands of David Tomlin with Hereford's Keith Ashley calling the notes.

Scotsman Stuart McClaren will have another Herefordshire co-driver on board in the shape of the highly experienced Mark Ammonds to guide him in their Opel Kadett GTE.