Butcher bags Porsche podiumposted in POR07 | 10 | 2012
FIFER RORY BUTCHER delivered back-to-back mature drives to clinch two top three finishes for Celtic Speed in the latest rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup GB at Silverstone (see more official photos of Rory in action at Silverstone).
But after finishing third in the day's opening race, the Scotcars-backed 25-year-old from Kirkcaldy was controversially handed a five-second penalty after powering his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to second in the final race.
Marshals judged the Scot had run wide on the exit of Turn 1 "too many times" and, as a result, had gained an unfair advantage.
"I'm really gutted to have been given the penalty, because I'm convinced I didn't contravene any rules," Butcher, who crossed the line second, just four-tenths of a second behind winner and newly-crowned champ Michael Meadows, said.
"Because the racing is so close, the penalty dropped me from second to seventh. At the end of the day, I have to accept the ruling of the marshals and just get on with it.
"But it's certainly fuelled the fire in my belly to go all-out for victories in the final double-header at Brands Hatch in a fortnight."
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The significance of the five-second penalty could be harsh for Butcher, who had been targeting second overall in the championship.
"The loss of points from being pushed back from second to seventh in the race means I'm now fifth in the championship, but just 14 points off third place," Butcher explained.
"Certainly third place is still a possibility, and I'll definitely be doing everything I can to win at Brands Hatch.
"It's also the least I can do for all the guys in the Celtic Speed team who worked their socks off to give me a terrific car for the weekend."
Butcher had started the opening race from fifth on the grid, but by the end of the opening lap had eased his way up to third, passing Jonas Gelzinis and Meadows in the process.
In the second race, Butcher started from fourth and again attacked right from the start.
"I got up the inside of James Sutton, then darted down the inside of Gelzinis into Turn 1," Butcher, who posted the fastest lap of the race, 56.953secs, said, "and after that it was a case of hunting down Meadows.
"Now I can't wait to race on the grand prix circuit at Brands: it's awesome. I've won twice already this season, and I feel we're overdue another victory.
"I know if we can maintain this level of performance through the final two races, we have every chance of sneaking third, and even possibly second, in the championship, which would be brilliant."
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Jim McGill