Porsche podium for Butcherposted in POR27 | 08 | 2012
FIFER RORY BUTCHER and his Celtic Speed team bagged a podium finish in their home round of the Porsche Carrera Cup at Knockhill in Fife.
But the 25-year-old from Kirkcaldy was only able to clinch a well-deserved second-place in the day's final race after his Celtic Speed team completed major repairs to his damaged Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.
"On the restart of the first Porsche race at Knockhill, I was lying fifth and eyeing a podium place when the pack headed into the fast right-hander at the top of the Seat Curves," Butcher explained.
"But just as I turned in, Andy Meyrick made a dive down the inside. He was carrying too much speed, couldn't slow down in time and clattered the back of my car.
"That sent me spinning across the grass on the left, which then spat me back on to the track at the foot of the hill into the path of Richard Plant.
"Richard had nowhere to go and hit the front of my car before I finally came to rest in the mud. Definitely not the way I had wanted to finish my first race at Knockhill."
See more photos of Rory Butcher in Porsche action at Knockhill
After the car was inspected by Porsche technicians to ensure the car's chassis had not suffered any damage, the car was returned to the Celtic Speed garage.
"The boys, led by my No. 1 mechanic, Jamie Cleland, worked wonders," Butcher continued. "They had to repair damage at the back and the front of the car, including a new bumper, bonnet and headlight.
"Plus, they emptied what appeared to be about half-a-ton of gravel from the car. After the brilliant work they did to get the car ready, I definitely had to deliver in the second race. I couldn't let them down."
Starting from fifth on the grid, Butcher was forced on to the grass to avoid another incident ahead of him on the opening lap, before picking off his rivals.
A blistering move saw him edge ahead of Jonas Gelzinis, then he outbraked Daniel Lloyd as the pair hurtled towards the Hairpin and he was up to second.
"Unfortunately, by that time Ben Barker was off into the distance, and there was no hope of me catching him," Butcher, whose lap times then matched those of the race leader, continued.
"Finishing second on my home circuit at Knockhill was brilliant, and especially to do it in front of my family and friends, and all my sponsors.
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"That was important because many of my sponsors don't manage to get to the race meetings in England, so I desperately wanted to show them how quick we are as a team."
Butcher's performance was also witnessed by team principal Tommy Dreelan.
"First-off, I have to pay tribute to all the guys in the Celtic Speed team," Dreelan said. "The way they pulled together to get Rory on the grid for the second race was fantastic.
"But for Rory then to go out and deliver the way he did just highlights the strength and commitment the Celtic Speed team has."
It was a mixed day too for George Brewster in the Celtic Speed Pro-Am1 car. After narrowly missing out on a class podium in the opening race, by just 0.502secs, he subsequently failed to finish the second race.
"Everything was going well, and we looked on for a podium," the Edinburgh-based J&E Shepherd director said, "but on lap seven the car suffered a puncture and that was that, race over."
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Jim McGill
Photo: Copyright Malcolm Griffiths