Clive Wheeler has maintained his third place overall in the VW Castrol Polo Challenge.

He put in another strong finish in the fourth round of the series, the Scottish Borders-based Jim Clark Memorial Junior Rally last weekend.

Albourne-based Wheeler and his Hurstpierpoint co-driver Ken Bartram finished third in the event in their Rycliff-backed Polo.

Wheeler said "We suffered gear selection problems on leg one and then had a slow start on Saturday.

"It was a case of getting used to the pace notes. By the end of the day, when we had achieved that, we were setting times similar to the leaders. We knew we had the pace but couldn't do it early enough."

The rally, which was hit by torrential rain on its opening day, was a tense battle throughout between two Ireland-based drivers, Doni Keating Jr and Ian Chadwick.

They traded the lead throughout the 13 stages, with 25-year-old Keating establishing a small advantage towards the end. Just 7.3 seconds separated them entering the final test and Chadwick managed to set the better time but it was not enough to dislodge Keating.

Wheeler, who has gained additional sponsorship from local estate agents Mishon Mackay, added: "Although the pace notes were flowing better on day two we were unable to catch the leading car of Ireland's Doni Keating and had to settle for third place."

Provisional championship placings: 1 Sophie Robinson (Warwick), 84pts; 2 Ian Chadwick (Cork), 80; 3 Clive Wheeler (Albourne), 74; 4 Doni Keating (Tipperary), 68; 5 Kevan Binnie (West Lothian), 56; 6 Fin McCaul (Burscough), 53.

At the same event, Justin Dale and co-driver Andrew Bargery, from Hove, won the Super 1600 category in their works Peugeot 206.

The result moved them up to second overall in the British Rally Championship and first of the Super 1600 drivers.

Dale and Bargery struggled on day one with grip problems but still did enough to finish second on the day, 3.3 seconds behind Gwyndaff Evans.

The following day the Peugeot teams were in terrific form, setting ten of the fastest stage times out of a possible 14 as they took class victory.

Dale said: "We struggled with grip a bit in the morning but the weather changed in the afternoon and allowed us to keep a steady pace.

"It was hard out there and we had our share of problems with the new set-up but it's good to have won this event again for Peugeot."

The Jim Clark rally was the first opportunity the team had to use and develop their Peugeot 206s after the new tarmac parts from France had arrived just a few days earlier.

Dale and Bargery led the rally from stage nine to the finish, albeit with a slight oil problem.

They are now second in the championship with 23 points, nine behind overall leader Jonny Milner in a Toyota Corolla.

The fifth round of the British Rally Championship takes place on the Isle of Man on August 1-3.