RISHTON rally driver Steve Entwistle secured the iconic Orangebox Mini’s first victory for almost half a century when he claimed first place at the Northumberland Borders Rally at the weekend.

The marigold-coloured car – a ‘cut and shut’ of the front half of a van and the rear half of a Mini saloon – became famous in the 1960s when it was driven by Roy Mapple.

But Entwistle restored the vehicle and returned it to action last year.

Following a number of encouraging results, the 40-year-old secured his first win in the Orangebox in the north east at the weekend – aided by navigator Bob Hargreaves.

“I am quite proud to have won a rally in it,” he said.

“As a kid I would read the Motorsport News and it captured my imagination.

“It was half of a van and half of a car, they were put together in more non-conformist times!

“Its colour was marigold and it got nicknamed ‘the Orangebox’ in the press.

“Roy started rallying in 1962 and competed in it for three years, and I think it won its last rally then.

“I met Roy three or four years ago and I got the remains of the car.

“It hadn’t been driven for a long time – it was more than 40 years since it was in a rally – but in 15 months we rebuilt it.”

Entwistle is still in touch with Mapple and Graham Marrs – the original navigator of the car who now lives in the United States.

He won the Northumberland Borders Rally by 12 seconds, a week after finishing first in class and 12th overall on the Tour of Cheshire, and is now aiming to take first place in the ANWCC Championship this year.

“I started rallying in 1991 and in 1992 I won the ANWCC Cham-pionship for navigators,” he said.

“So my aim is 20 years on to win it as a driver.

“The event at the weekend went really well. I’d competed in it twice before, I won it in 2010 and last year I finished second. That was my first rally in this car.

“I’ve had 16 trophies in 10 events in the Orangebox now.”