West Sussex rally stars Clive Wheeler and Ken Bartram moved back into the lead of the Castrol Polo Challenge after a strong finish on the Isle of Man-based Manx Trophy Rally.

Wheeler, from Albourne, and Hurstpierpoint's Bartram placed third in the event, the fifth of the championship's seven rounds.

They came under intense pressure towards the end of the rally from the car of Anders Fredricsson.

The Swede nosed 0.2 seconds ahead at one point but came to grief on the penultimate stage with a damaged radiator after landing badly over a jump.

Wheeler said: "We were having a good battle and it's a shame Anders went out. But it was a battle and it had to be decided one way or the other."

With his chief title rival, Finn Jari Laakso, failing to finish the event, Wheeler's championship lead is now 17 points.

The Castrol Polo Challenge action moves to Yorkshire at the end of September.

Victory there for Wheeler, in the penultimate round, the Trackrod Rally, could seal his second successive Polo title.

Laakso led the early stages of the Manx before sustaining a broken driveshaft.

Lancastrian Kenny Brown took over in front and was heading for a solid victory before overheating problems slowed him on the final stage.

Manxman Adrian Kermode put his vast local experience to good use on the closing stages.

He pipped Brown to the win by seven seconds with Wheeler third a further minute behind.

Provisional championship placings: 1 Clive Wheeler (Albourne), 124 points; 2 Jari Laakso (Finland), 107; 3 Kenny Brown (Heywood), 95; 4 Sophie Robinson (Moreton Morrell), 80; 5 Mark Annand (Aberdeen), 67; 6 Anders Fredricsson (Sweden), 56.