Currently third overall in the Carter’s Tyres South Island Endurance – Three Hour Series is the Audi R8 LMS Ultra of Christina Orr and Ben Byers. Three slightly different Audi R8s occupy the top three places heading to the final round next Saturday at the Mike Pero Motorsport Park in Christchurch.
Orr-West is not new to the series having competed last season with MIKE Racing in a Mercedes SLS. I caught up with her at the third round last weekend at the Timaru International Raceway and asked her what is like to drive an Audi R8?
“Awesome, absolutely awesome. It’s the first time at this track (Timaru). I thought it would be more difficult but the Audi seems to suit this pointy, kind-of-turn-in type of track. I think Timaru is more tight and narrow than other (NZ) tracks and with the new seal, it is quite challenging.”
New seal went down on the track before the weekend and caught some drivers off-guard, particularly in a wet Friday practice.
“It starts over the back, off turn 7 it. Lots of cars were initially over-steering. The wet of Friday practice meant there wasn’t any rubber put down with the rain.”
This is the first time Orr-West has been back to Timaru for sometime.
“Last year we didn’t race the MIKE Racing Mercedes due to a problem with the gear shift at the previous round at Ruapuna (Christchurch).
“This (driving an Audi R8) is ten-times easier to drive than the Merc. In someways I am a bit upset as I had put so much effort into driving the Merc and came into this thinking I would need the same level of aggression but it is completely different.
“It’s different in terms of braking and turning in. The Merc requires 120 psi pressure on the brake pedal and with such a long nose they are harder to turn in so you have to really be on the brakes to get them turning in. With the (Audi) R8, the engine is in the back so a lot easier to turn.
“At Teretonga the Audi was much quicker than the Merc but at Highlands the times were similar.
“Last season I was the #2 driver so my job was to get it to the #1 driver to gallop it home. This season I’m the #1 so I get to gallop it home. My whole mindset has changed and I’m actually enjoying it. Enjoying the challenge and having to step-up.”
Orr-West and Ben Byers find themselves third overall after three of the four rounds and pleasantly surprised by it.
“It’s great, particularly when you look at the calibre of cars and drivers. we shouldn’t really have a show to be third. We have a chance to beat them and the key is to finish and we don’t take unnecessary risks when it comes to lap-traffic. It is a matter of keeping it clean, out of trouble and bringing it home.
“Timaru is not my favourite track, however, obviously when you are in a fast car and everything is gelling and going well you are excited and happy with the day.
The other R8s have more horse power and aero and we have no show of beating them unless they have issues.”
Let’s not forget it wasn’t that long ago that Orr-West competed in three seasons of the Toyota Racing Series. In 2006 she finished seventh, fifth in 2007 and eighth in 2008.
“That taught me a lot about this track, like not hitting kerbs and taking some caution coming into the kink, particularly when it is wet.”
You may have a fast car but you also need the experience and talent which Orr-West has in bucket-loads. They are just 32-points behind overall leaders Neil Foster/Jonny Reid (Audi R8 LMS GT3) and 25-points ahead of fourth overall, Dwayne and Matt Carter (Mercedes SLS). With 75-points on offer for the win at the finale, first you have to finish and this is a series if you falter you are out the back door.
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