Josh Orr #19 SMRC Scottish Fiesta XR2 (Dual View) - Oulton Park 06 August 2016

**RACE REPORT**
2 weekends ago (I know sorry for the late report…) we were racing Oulton Park in the Scottish Fiesta Racing Championship! Absolutely perfect weather for it, which led to a thoroughly enjoyable weekend!
First stop was Andrew Lamont Motorsport Ltd on the Thursday to get the car corner weighted and set-up since we just had the suspension refreshed. A lot of tweeks were made, especially since we fitted the new safer rear axle.
TESTING
Instead of forking out for testing at Oulton Park, we decided to just test the car at Knockhill Racing Circuit on the Thursday evening. The cars last outing before this was October 2015, so it was really just a shake-down test to make sure everything was working as it should. We found that everything was good apart from the geometry was unfortunately moving as we were going round, and there was a knock from the front right.
Now that we had a list of things to sort before race weekend it was time to pack up and head South to Oulton Park! Many hours later, and at least 5 (lost count) diversions off the M6 later, and we made it into the early hours of the morning!
Friday was spent watching everyone else testing, helping out where we could, and working away on the car to make it race ready. The faults were found (loose front ball joint & loose upper suspension nut, oops) and the geometry was reset. We discovered at Knockhill that I actually have the longer ratio gearbox fitted, due to all the power issues last year we never realised!! Rather than change it out for the shorter box, we decided to run with it and prove that the short box wasn’t the reason we were so fast at Oulton…
QUALIFYING
With ZERO testing, and an unfamiliar ratio of gearbox, I was a bit nervous going into testing… But with 2 race meets of previous experience of the track, 2x 1st places & 2x 2nd places, a fresh set of rubber up front, we were confident. During testing I noticed on the lap timer that I was ~roughly 2 seconds slower than last years pace… When the chequered flag came out I was ready for jumping out the car and changing the box there and then, but when I had 2 fingers held up from the team (signifying 2nd place, not being told where to go…) I was pretty happy with that!
RACE 1
Unfortunately we had issues with the Go Pros before this one so no footage... Starting 2nd on the XR2 grid behind Steven Gray, sitting ready to go. We were due to start 20 seconds after the XR Challenge, but the first thing I notice… I couldn’t see the starting flag!! Unfortunately I had to rely off the reaction time of others infront, and that is never going to get you anywhere fast! I got a terrible start, and Barry Farquharson got a blinder! Straight into 3rd place… I sat there for a few laps until we caught up with the English XR2s. Barry, in the lead, went for an overtake past one of them going into Cascades. Unfortunately they touched and both spun out, which left no other option than to take to the grass on the outside! I will be trying to avoid ever doing that again as it was a hell of a bumpy ride!! I was gutted the cameras weren’t on as it would have been some footage I tell you! However, I managed to return to the track in 2nd place still which was a surprise!! Soon after I realised there was something wrong with the car, the moment you have a rear suspension bush at your feet… Never a good thing!! But never something to slow me down! Cascades was VERY interesting every lap after that… The feeling of a pogo stick comes to mind! Lap times were hampered slightly by this, but we were still catching the leader Steven!! A few laps on I noticed a lot of blue smoke coming from his bonnet! At this point I knew I could definitely win it!! On the penultimate lap I managed to get past him, and from there hold the lead over the line!!
Going from the grass, worrying about the car flipping, to winning. WHAT A FEELING!
RACE 2
What. A. Race.
I could write a novel describing it all. All I need to say about this one is that it was by far the best race that I have had in the 3 years I’ve been racing, and that the gap at the end was 38 thousandths of a second between myself and Barry…
Watch the video to see what happens!
THANKS to all the marshalls and people who were there to support me and be a part of Orrco Racing! Really could not do it without you! Thanks also to Andrew Lamont Motorsport Ltd for a great set up! Really is a man with alot of race car knowledge!!
Scottish Motor Racing Club
Josh Orr

[@DavidMorley]

Fantastic!

[@Gigi-ei4ew]

Bravo