BINGLEY'S Sam Bilham has given himself a 'simple' target in the biggest test of his career – finishing the Wales Rally GB National.

The former Fiesta ST Trophy champion is a late entrant for the gruelling event at Deeside, which takes in the two days of FIA World Rally Championship qualifying on October 5-6.

Bilham, who was English Rally champion in 2016, will be driving a Ford Fiesta R2 – the same car that he used to take to second in class during his last outing at the Nicky Grist Stages Rally in July.

The 21-year-old, who will be tackling the Penmachno, Dyfi and Myherin forests. has had a quiet year behind the wheel as he attempts to build funds to acquire a new car for a 2019 campaign. After winning the 2300 Club John Easson Award in 2016 and the Fiesta Trophy the following year, Bilham's outings have been limited to one-off drives this season.

A class win at Rally North Wales in a Vauxhall Adam Cup was followed up with his impressive effort in the Fiesta at the BTRDA qualifier in July.

But now Bilham and his fellow ST Trophy co-driver champion Cameron Fair will take on demanding stages over unforgiving terrain in one of the biggest challenges of their career

With the best drivers in the business heading to the event for the penultimate round of the World Rally Championship, the national event will take in the Friday and Saturday leg of the route and their classic tests.

Bilham sees this as not only the toughest test of his motorsport but also feels it is a real honour to contest this prestigious event.

"As a kid, all I ever really wanted to do was compete on the RAC Rally, as it was known then, and here I am, all set to drive a Fiesta R2 on this very event," says a thrilled Bilham.

"I know so many people say this but it really is a privilege to contest the rally, and to do so in a modern-day R2 car is unbelievable.

"I really must thank Pete Smith (the car's owner) for this opportunity to drive the Fiesta again.

"Even though I had never driven the car before, I felt really at home behind the wheel on the Nicky Grist, so hopefully it won't take me long to acclimatise again".

As if the challenge of a world-class event wasn't enough, Bilham will face almost double the mileage of the BTRDA event he is used to but he is ready for the task ahead.

"This is going to be unbelievably tough on both me and the car, I'm under no illusion of that," he says.

"There are 84 miles ahead of us, some of which could be under the cover of darkness, so I really do think that aiming for finish will be my top priority during the weekend.

"I don't really have many expectations of a finish, but I'd just like to complete the stages and get myself across the finish in Deeside on Saturday night.

"It won't be easy but I'm ready for the challenge and I'm sure I`ll enjoy every single moment of it".

Bilham is supported by Calvert Construction, Reis Motorsport Insurance, DMACK Tyres, The Garage at Stanley Mills, Gareth Hooper Motorsport Services and Leighton Vans, and the deals to compete in the rally were made possible thanks to The Swift Group, Greenlight Sports and Entertainment, ME Rallysport and Pete Smith.