Chilman storms to maiden British Historic Rally Championship win at the Riponian

In a tooth-and-nail battle which was fought out across every one of the Riponian Stages Rally tests on Sunday (12 February), it was Roger Chilman who came out on top, taking his maiden Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship victory.

In a nip-and-tuck fight for the lead which saw up to four protagonists in with a chance of taking the win, it was the Ford Escort MKII crew of Chilman and co-driver Patrick Walsh who kept their cool over the final loop of stages to set their stall out early for the season ahead.

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British Historic Rally Championship ready for the Riponian

The Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship speeds back into action next weekend as the Riponian Stages Rally (12 February) heralds the beginning of an exciting season for the top-drawer series.

The leading Historic rally championship in the UK will see seven high quality events form the roster in 2023, with six gravel rounds and one asphalt event offering the only change to the format.

Fuchs Lubricants RACRMC Historic Rally Championship reveals a new look for 2023

The Fuchs Lubricants RACRMC Historic Rally Championship has launched details of the 2023 season, offering a top-drawer seven-round calendar for the year ahead.

After making the switch to an all-gravel series in 2022, following feedback from competitors the championship will introduce an asphalt round to the series, adding to six high quality forest events which encompass some of the best gravel stages in the country.

Robinson rules the Riponian with dominant BHRC performance

Matthew Robinson and Sam Collis enjoyed a perfect start to their 2022 Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship campaign, dominating the Riponian Stages Rally timesheets to a secure provisional victory at the opening round of the series on Sunday (6 February) *.

Robinson hustled his Ford Escort MK2 to fastest time on each of the event’s six stages, taking victory by 47 seconds from nearest rivals Nick Elliott and Dave Price in their similar machine whilst Roger Chilman and Gwynfor Jones grabbed the final podium spot on the last stage of the event.

Riponian Stages Rally

There was a bumper entry on the Riponian as it welcomed the BHRC for it’s opening round of the championship. Oliver Mellors & Max Freeman (Iriz R5) took victory by 31s and 4 fastest stage times ahead of Elliot Payne & Patrick Walsh (Fiesta Rally2), who picked up the other two fastest stage times. David Henderson & Chris Lees (Fiesta R5) were a solid 3rd overall. In the Historics, Matthew Robinson & Sam Collis (Escort MkII) took victory by 47s from Nick Elliott & Dave Price (Escort MkII). Roger Chilman & Gwynfor Jones (Escort MkII) completed the Historic podium in 8th overall.

British Historic Rally Championship set for a stellar season

The Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship is set to provide one of the best campaigns in recent times as a bumper list of registrations kick off the 2022 season at this weekend’s Riponian Stages Rally (6 February).

The UK’s premier Historic rally championship enjoys a new-look to the series as an all-gravel offering was revealed for the first full year of the series since 2019.

British Historic Rally Championship goes all-gravel in 2022

The Fuchs Lubricants British Historic Rally Championship has today [8 December] unveiled its 2022 calendar with a new-look for the upcoming season.

Riponian Stages Rally

There aren’t many finer places than the North Yorkshire moors and the crews tackled them on a crisp late Winters day. Charlie Payne & Carl Williamson (Fiesta) blew the others away on stage 1, going 11 seconds faster than their nearest rivals over the 4.4 mile stage. It was the Satria S2000 crew of Ollie Mellors & Ian Windress who were 2nd thanks to fastest stage times on SS3 & SS4 bringing the gap down to 3 seconds, at the mid event service.

Riponian Stages Rally

It was only our third trip to the Riponian and it already is a firm favourite despite the weather. In many respects the snow at the end of the day made the event for our final stage, Roppa. Charles Payne & Andrew Roughead (Fiesta) dominated the event with a series of fastest stage times, (all but the last 2 stages), saw them take a comfortable victory. In a superb 2nd place were Matthew Robinson & Sam Collis (Escort MkII) who had been on it all day, benefiting from final stage dramas which saw Ian Joel & Graeme Wood (Escort Cosworth) drop the best part of a minute and a half on the final stage.

Riponian Stages Rally

On only our 2nd visit to the Riponian we witnessed Charlie Payne & Craig Thorley (Focus WRC) return to form. After a slow start to the Wyedean last weekend they set fastest time on the opening 5 stages and joint fastest on the 6th stage to hold a comfortable lead at service. The afternoon saw the top 4 exchange fastest stage times but the damage had been done and Payne took a 55 second victory from Ian Joel & Graeme Wood (Escort Cosworth). Peter Stephenson & Ian Windress (Focus WRC) completed the podium ahead of Kevin Proctor & David Bellerby (Impreza WRC) who had lost ground in the first half of the rally.