MINI man Steve Entwistle has consolidated his lead in the HRCR Clubmans Championship after claiming another top-three finish last weekend.

The Rishton-based driver out-powered his rivals on the Leukaemia Rally to finish a brilliant second overall in the Orangebox Mini, less than two minutes behind the Porsche 911 of reigning champion Howard Warren.

The result was enough for Entwistle, who had Matt Fowle on the maps for the first time, to win his class by six minutes and finish top Mini – for the second event running.

“It was just the result we were looking for to maintain our momentum,” said Entwistle.

“We cannot afford any slip-ups if we want to challenge for the title.”

Home Counties-based Fowle didn’t get off to the best of starts. Multiple accidents closed both the M25 and M4, delaying his arrival in South Wales until 2am, less than four hours before the start.

But lack of sleep didn’t deter the highly-rated Fowle – or his driver.

Despite giving away almost 100bhp to their rivals, the pair were second quickest – by one second – to Warren’s Porsche on the opening test at Chepstow Racecourse and joint fastest on the next.

From then on, Entwistle and Fowle held down second place throughout the one-day event, which comprised 15 tests and 8 regularities.

With only the best six scores to count from the nine rounds Entwistle will not enter next month’s Hughes Rally.

Entwistle will be back in action on the East Anglian Classic on June 20 with his fourth navigator of the year, Andy Ballantyne.

The Devon-based mapman is a DJ on Heart Radio in the South West.

“If he’s as good on the maps as he is on the decks, we’ll be OK, “ joked Entwistle.

*Steve Entwistle is sponsored by Mini Sport of Padiham and Bowker MINI of Preston.