SAM Bilham of Bingley managed a podium position in the Llandudno-based Cambrian Rally – despite never having driven his new Fiesta ST before the start.

The team bought the car, which is an upgrade from their Nissan Micra, before Christmas and have spent the winter preparing it for this year's championship.

But parts supply problems meant there was no time to test it before the first round of the Fiesta ST Trophy, which is part of the BTRDA National Rally Championship.

The Cambrian Rally uses some of the same stages as the Wales Rally GB and is always a tough event, although this did not seem to faze 19-year-old Bilham – who, in addition to having a new car, also had to get used it being a left-hand drive.

However, he and co-driver Richard Crozier were on the pace straight away in a determined bid to finish.

Coming away with a trophy made it so much sweeter – and their third place would have been even better were it not for an excursion into some soft mud, which took over four minutes to get out of and cost them a runners-up berth.

The Fiesta ST Trophy takes in eight rounds between now and October and the championship finale is Bilham's home event, the Rally Yorkshire.

He said: "Gareth Hooper Motorsport have done an incredible job. The car was perfect right from the off and ran faultlessly all day."

The Steeton-based firm have prepared the car for Bilham and are long-time supporters of the young driver, who won five titles in the Nissan Micra.

As well as the new car, the team have welcomed new partners this year in REIS Motorsport Insurance, Pertemps Recruitment and Mechanical Solutions.

The next round of the championship is the Malcolm Wilson Rally in the Lake District on Saturday, March 12.