Orange Racing By JMH once again left Portugal with trophies to their name in Round 2 of the GT Winter Series, thanks to strong performances by Simon Orange and Marcus Clutton at Estoril last weekend (24/25 January).

After a competitive showing to open the Winter Series just one week prior in Portimao, the McLaren 720S GT3 duo of Orange and Clutton had sights set firmly on adding to their silverware collection and bagging more crucial points, following a podium finish in the Algarve.

The #67 car, backed by Sale Sharks, William Hare, CorpAcq, BOL Foods, Parkway England, Smith Bros. and Shoppertainment, stayed in Portugal for the second event of the Winter Series, this time held at the historic Estoril circuit that was once part of the Formula 1 schedule.

After giving a fine account of themselves over two intense days of testing in build-up to the weekend’s key action, Qualifying marked the first two important sessions on Saturday for the team. Simon was immediately on the pace during Q1, and put the McLaren fifth on the grid for the opening contest. Clutton followed up with a sublime Qualifying effort of his own, putting himself third on the grid for the second of the weekend’s three races.

Race one later that Saturday was a 30-minute battle in tricky conditions, for which Orange would be behind the wheel. Avoiding a spin at the first corner just ahead of him, he put the car safely into the top five overall and began chasing the four cars ahead of him. A good move after a restart meant he could climb into fourth overall, staying there until chequered flag to grab third in the GT3 class and add another podium to the team’s tally for the campaign.

Clutton would be in control for the second Sprint of the weekend the following day, and despite dropping a place at the rolling start, he pulled off a sensational around-the-outside pass on the Lamborghini of Jonas Karklys at the long final right-hander for third place – throwing back to a move famously made by Jacques Villeneuve in 1996.

He brought car #67 home in third place to confirm a second podium finish of the weekend, building up to one final 55-minute enduro for both drivers that featured a driver change at mid-distance.

The third race started in strong fashion as Simon charged his way up a place heading into the first corner, and then instantly eased his way by the Ferrari of Felix Hirsiger at the subsequent hairpin to climb to third overall. Settling in until the mandatory pitstops, the McLaren squad were among the first to jump and put Clutton in the car for his stint.

It looked a good call when the safety car was called for a rival’s off ahead, but unfortunately it was the scene for one of two slices of misfortune that affected Clutton’s race. He was one of several cars caught behind the safety car, invertedly losing huge ground on the leading duo. It then happened a second time with another late safety car brought out, catching the #67 car which could only follow home slowly to the chequered flag.

The positive news was that Clutton and Orange had still done enough to come home third in the GT3 class, and ensure a clean sweep of third place finishes in Estoril to keep themselves in title contention with two out of five events completed.

Jason Hughes, Team Manager: “We came here looking for podium finishes – whatever step we could reach – and to come away with three trophies from three races in Estoril was a good way to leave the second round. Simon drove really well once again in difficult conditions, and it’s massive to keep racking up the points to keep us in contention for the GT3 title. We’re obviously disappointed with how race three unfolded; we were just really unlucky with the timing of the safety cars, and that put us a lap behind instead of in the fight for the top spot at a key time. These things happen, so it will even itself out hopefully!”

Next up for the Orange Racing By JMH squad is the first of three trips to Spanish circuits in succession, the first being at Valencia across the weekend of 12-15 February.