Butcher targets Porsche gloryposted in POR29 | 03 | 2013
FIFER RORY BUTCHER fires his Celtic Speed Porsche up this weekend as he launches an all-out assault to lift the Porsche Carrera Cup.
The 25-year-old from Kirkcaldy will pilot his Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer at Brands Hatch, in Kent, this weekend as he targets his first championship.
"Both the team and I took significant steps forward last year, winning races and gathering a number of podium finishes," Scotcars-backed Butcher said.
"Now we head into the new season knowing we have everything in place to mount a serious bid to win the championship."
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But Butcher acknowledges lifting the ultra-competitive Porsche Carrera Cup — fought out over 20 races at all the UK's leading race tracks, including Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington, Oulton Park and Knockhill — will be tough.
"Everyone knows it's one of the most difficult championships in the UK to win," the Knockhill race instructor explained.
"The standard of the guys racing in the series gets higher and higher every year, and this season is no different.
"It's a very strong grid, with the likes of Daniel Lloyd, Jonas Gelzinas and 2012 champ Michael Meadows returning for a crack at the 2013 title.
"Celtic Speed is rightfully considered a force at this level. Now we have to go out and show everyone why."
Butcher, who will be joined by Edinburgh team-mate George Brewster, who will contest the Pro-Am1 class, has completed an intensive pre-season test programme, with outings at Oulton Park, Silverstone, Snetterton and Croft.
The weather, naturally, has badly affected the build-up but, as Butcher admits, it's been the same for everyone.
"Obviously there's nothing you can do about the weather," he smiled. "It looks like I might even have to fit a snowplough to the front of my car this weekend.
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"But it's been the same for everyone in the build-up to the season. We had a dry day at Oulton, which really allowed me to clear my head and find a base set up for the car.
"From then on it was really tricky conditions – not wet enough for wets, but not dry enough for slicks.
"However, you never know when you may face these conditions in a race situation, so it was all great experience.
"I've got to thank all the guys at Celtic Speed for getting the car so well prepared. We head to Brands Hatch in a confident mood, and we're determined to hit the ground running."
Such is the growth in interest and support for Butcher's Porsche campaign, that he has attracted a bank of new sponsors and supporters for the 2013 season, including:
Advantec Aberdeen Ltd
Agrii
Angel Wax
Caledonia Print
Dalkeith Transport
Harley Hepburn Accountants
21 Hospitality Group
Houseman Drylining
Intrafusion Website Design and Development
John Young Signs
J Gilmour Painter and Decorators Kirkcaldy
Knockhill Racing Circuit
McDonald Engineers
Mind And Body Studio
Production Glassfibre
Scotcars.co.uk
Short Term Finance
William Waugh Ltd
William Johnston and Company
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Jim McGill