Photo: Speedworks Motorsport
Rory Butcher feels that he and his Toyota Gazoo Racing UK team have âreally turned a cornerâ in the British Touring Car Championship, after the Scot picked up his first win of the year last weekend at Oulton Park.
Until heading to Cheshire, Butcher had only managed to secure one podium finish so far in 2021, his first year with the Speedworks Motorsport-run team.
But the 34-year-old found some pace in his Toyota Corolla at Oulton Park, going second quickest in free practice and then qualifying his car in third for race one, less than a tenth shy of pole position.
Rory Butcher targets Toyota podium
1 day ago
Rory Butcher says he is hopeful of pushing for the podium places when he make his debut with the Speedworks team in the 2021 BTCC season opener at Thruxton this weekend.
Butcher joined the Toyota team over the winter in place of Tom Ingram and will spearhead an expanded two-car entry alongside series returnee Sam Smelt during the year ahead.
The Scot has been hard at work acclimatising to his new surroundings during the off-season and will look to impress on his race debut at a circuit where he has scored podiums in the last two years – and where the car won twice last season in Ingram’s hands.
That effort will be led by Butcher, who will make his 100th BTCC start in the opening race of the campaign at Thruxton on May 9. And the Scot is determined to put together a strong campaign aimed at lifting the overall BTCC title.
“Over the past 12 months, I really feel like I’ve matured as a driver, and I’m now much more capable of looking at the bigger picture and putting a championship campaign together,” Butcher stated.
“I obviously had a good crack at that in 2020, and whilst things ultimately didn’t go my way, that’s just part of the learning curve. Unquestionably it’s made me stronger. It’s all about racking up the points in this game the podiums and wins are a bonus and there’s no reason at all why we shouldn’t be fighting at the front right from the start.”