Christina Proves Quick In The Wet

Christina Orr showed her capabilities in the team's Holden Commodore at Powerbuilt International Raceway, Ruapuna at the weekend in what was shaping up to be a promising round for the 22 year old BNTV8s rookie.

After showing competitive pace in practice and qualification sessions at only her second meeting in the series, the ex-Toyota Racing Series and Indy Lights driver placed well in the opening race with 20th but sadly was forced to withdraw just three laps into race two.

An engine problem which surfaced in race one reappeared early in the second.

"We thought we had it fixed but in the second race smoke started coming into the cockpit and I couldn't see a damn thing - same with the poor guys behind me." she said.

The damage was terminal and the weekend was over for the team leaving them to sit out and watch the final race .

Starting in the pouring rain, the chaotic reverse-grid final race saw numerous safety car periods throughout it's 20 laps.

The race was also red flagged and brought to a temporary halt when Andy Booth went off the circuit at high speed resulting in him being taken to hospital for observation.

"I was disappointed to miss the last race because I would have started at the front and have a chance at a podium in the wet, but when I saw the carnage and everyone being taken out I was glad we still had a straight car rather than a big repair bill over the Christmas period." she said.

The weekend began well however after an initial struggle with the car on a wet track was quickly rectified by the team.

"In the first session I couldn't believe it, the car was just nasty and trying to take off in all directions - I came in saying 'no way' so they quickly changed the springs and everything then sent me back out - then it was a totally different car and a dream to drive."

Orr returned to the circuit with a new set up which immediately placed her on par with the rest of the field.

"I was 14th quickest in the wet, I went from being dead last, to hovering around 10th quickest, to 14th and then I went off; I had to find my limit and I found it." said Orr.

Orr placed 19th in the qualification session after conditions became dry with the car on a safe half wet, half dry set up.

Committed to a moderate set up without being able to predict the track conditions, Orr was unable to put in the lap times she was capable of but nevertheless achieved her goal for the weekend of making it inside the top 20 qualifiers.

"If we had known what the weather was going to do we would have had a dry set up but there was no time to make any changes in the session, I was 15th for ages but as the others were able to come in and make changes I ended up 19th - unfortunately there was no quick fix for us." she said.

Her raw pace at the weekend on a slippery, tricky Ruapuna circuit has Orr confident of her potential for the remaining four rounds of her first season in the BNTV8s.

The team will receive their new race engine in time for the next round in January and Orr is looking forward to some more wet races which will even out the performance between her and the large BNTV8s field made up of New Zealand's quickest drivers.

"If it's wet down south or at Manfeild I'm feeling pretty confident that I might get somewhere and may get further than I thought in my rookie year... if it rains." she said.

Christina Orr's race crew is made up of her father Will Orr, Richard McChesney, Dave Lowe and Ronald van der Hoorst.

"The crew are from my dad's era in rallying, now I've gone to tin tops they can all tutu with the car, they couldn't really help with the single seaters but now apparently it's a free-for-all."

"We have my dad there making sure things are running smoothly and he does the fuel, we keep an eye on him because he tends to put his fingers in where they're not wanted - he's atrocious with his big fingers." laughs Christina.

The BNT V8s take a break over Christmas restarting in the new year at Teretonga Park, Invercargill on the 16-17th January followed by the next meeting at Timaru International Motor Raceway on the 23-24th January 2010.