Orr upgrades into Toyota GT86

Stanley Orr has secured a drive in a Millingtonpowered Toyota GT86 for this weekend’s

Down Rally.

The Killinchy man will swap his Ford

Escort Mk1 for the Japanese sports coupe which belongs to David Greer Motorsport. He has already sampled the rear-wheel-drive car during a test at Kirkistown race circuit.

But, despite quickly gelling with the GT86, Orr insists the priority is to enjoy the experience.

“I haven’t been told, ‘you have to do this, you have to do that’, and I don’t have anything to prove to anyone. I’m under no pressure,” he told Motorsport News.

“There’s a lot of very fast Class Seven cars on the entry list, and a lot of extremely capable drivers taking part, so I am not even thinking [about winning].

“We aren’t going to be breaking any records but, at the same time, we will have a damn good go at it.

“It’s a completely different proposition to my Escort. For starters, there is a sequential gearbox in the Toyota and you have the benefit of powerassisted steering. It really is a mighty thing.”

The opportunity to compete in the car came after David Greer, the owner of DGM, approached Orr.

“David asked me a couple of times before and for one reason or another it didn’t suit,” added Orr.

“He saw that I had an entry in for the Down Rally, he called me, and he offered me the GT86. If there are other chances to drive it again in the future then I would certainly be up for it.”

After the Down Rally, Orr will switch his attention back to the British Historic Rally Championship, which he leads.

The next round of the competition takes him to Wales for the

Harry Flatters Rally on July 28.