Butcher claims first BTCC win of 2020 23 | 08 | 2020

FIFER RORY BUTCHER bagged his first British Touring Car Championship win of the season at Oulton Park. A few hours later, the Scot followed it up with a second place in the next race. (Related: Butcher bags back-to-back BTCC pole positions)

It was the perfect preparation by the 33-year-old from Kirkcaldy, now third in the championship behind former champs Colin Turkington and Ash Sutton, ahead of next weekend’s BTCC triple-header at his home circuit, Knockhill.

“It’s great to get my first win of the season,” Butcher, who started the race from pole position, admitted today, “and to finish on the podium again in the second race shows we have the car to mix it at the front of the field.” (Related: Butcher eyes BTCC title with Motorbase)

The Scot initially finished second in the day’s opener, behind Josh Cook, but the Englishman’s Honda was subsequently disqualified after a technical infringement, promoting Butcher to the top step of the podium.

Sutton won the day’s second race in his Infiniti, with Butcher second. Mercedes racer Adam Morgan then won the third and final race, with Butcher — who started from ninth on the reverse grid  — finishing eighth.

“We’ve got our first win of the season with the new Ford, bagged a good haul of championship points today, and moved up to third in the standings, just 22 points off second, so I’ve got to be pleased,” Butcher said.

“Now we head straight up to Knockhill, my home circuit. I know the car suits the demanding circuit well, so hopefully we can maintain our pace, bag some more podiums and get our second win of the season.”

Related: Sandy Mitchell bags two British GT podiums

Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars

Jim McGill

All photographs copyright of Jakob Ebrey