Historic Achievement for Orr in Wales – Motorsport.ie

For Killinchy’s Stanley Orr, and new co-driver for 2016, Guy Weaver from England, the North Wales Stages rally on Saturday, round two of the MSA British Historic Rally Championship, proved the combination of a well prepared, driven and crewed Ford Escort MK1 Pinto, could take on the more powerful opposition, and win the important Category 2 outright.

It was not a new occurrence for the County Down based team, who held off the challenge of Simon Tysoe in his 16 valve BDA engine MK1 Escort, and to clinch seventh place amongst a mammoth field of Historic rally cars. Indeed on round one the British Historic series, the pair claimed a convincing category two victory in the MK Transport backed machine.

“It’s been a good start to the year with Guy and the team. It’s gelled very well with Guy in the co-driver’s seat and some updates to the engine over the winter” said Stanley from his Killinchy garage. We also contested the Mid Wales stages, a round of the HRCR Historic Championship, and ended up fifth overall amongst the modern cars and first Historic. Once again thanks to the guys- Trevor “Cleet” Thompson, Finlay “Finn” Kilpatrick and Dominic “Dom” McGreevy who help me the car at nights, as the reliability has been excellent. I had a sticky second gear, and bent a rear shock at the weekend, just on some rough surfaces. The boys changed the pair of rear shocks, in record time, but really that has been the only drama in the three events contested so far.”

With additional support also from Ashmores Press Brake Tooling, Carryduff Autoparts and Pro-Tyre it has enabled the team to cross the water to take on the challenge of the premier Historic Championship in the UK. Next up is the Carlisle Rally on 30th April and Stanley looks like he could repeat his existing British Historic Championship category victory achieved in 2014, as well as a significant overall position.

The remaining rounds of the 2016 British Historic Rally Championship calendar are:

Saturday 30 April: Pirelli Carlisle Rally

Saturday 4 June: Severn Valley Stages

Sunday 24 July: Harry Flatters Rally

Saturday 20 August: Red Dragon Stages

Thurs-Sat 15-17 Sep: Isle of Man Classic

Fri/Sat 30 Sep/1 Oct: Trackrod Historic Cup