Butcher dominates Knockhill BTCC win 30 | 08 | 2020

    FIFER RORY BUTCHER repeated his Knockhill victory of 12 months ago when he won the final race in the British Touring Car Championship triple-header at his home circuit. The win also came seven days after he won at Oulton Park. (Related: Rory Butcher — Exclusive Knockhill Interview)

    The 33-year-old from Kirkcaldy, who started today’s race from second on the grid in his Motorbase Ford Focus, launched himself into the lead as the pack headed into the right-hander at Duffus Dip. The Scot then delivered an imperious drive to cross the line 6.442 seconds ahead of Senna Proctor’s Hyundai in second. (Related: Sandy Mitchell storms to British GT win at Brands Hatch)

    But Butcher was made to sweat for a few hours while the stewards investigated his start which, certainly from the naked eye, looked blisteringly fast and perfectly timed. Thankfully, after analysing the necessary data, the stewards agreed that his start was legal.

    “It’s a fantastic way to finish the weekend,” Butcher, who finished fifth and 10th in the day’s opening two races at Knockhill,” said.

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    “I didn’t really get the results I wanted in the first two races, but I knew I had the pace in the car to win if I could get a clear run, and that’s exactly what happened. To win on home soil with the new Motorbase Ford Focus is fantastic. I’m so delighted for the team.” (Related: Butcher claims first BTCC win of 2020)

    But the Scot admitted that after Race 2, which included an excursion into the gravel (below) at the tight right-hander at Scotsman after he darted down the inside in an effort to overtake, he gave himself a right talking to.

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    “I’ve had a really difficult day,” Butcher admitted. “I was really pleased with Race 1, making up one place from my starting position. But in Race 2 I wasn’t really proud of my performance. I kind of over-drove the car. I had to sit down after that and just reset.

    “I’ve been getting superb starts this year. I’ve done a lot of studying into how to launch the car best, and I was confident going into the final race, and starting from P2, that I could lead into Turn 1.

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    “Of course I was worried about the fact my start was under investigation, but thankfully the stewards made the right call. I’m so proud of that win,” the Scot, who also won at Knockhill 12 months ago, continued.

    “This event at Knockhill means so much to me. As soon as the BTCC calendar comes out it’s the one race weekend that I look forward to. (Related: Butcher bags back-to-back BTCC pole positions)

    “Normally you get all the Scottish fans here and you have am incredible atmosphere, but unfortunately we didn’t have that today because of Covid. But the Scottish marshals were waving the Saltires at the end of the race, so that was nice.”

    The day’s final race was originally red flagged following a sizeable accident involving Ollie Jackson (Motorbase Performance), Mike Bushell (Power Maxed Car Care Racing) and Sam Osborne (MB Motorsport accelerated by Blue Square).

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    The rear-right wheel of Jackson’s Ford Focus was locked, which ultimately spun his #48 machine through the chicane and in front of the oncoming traffic. Bushell had nowhere to go – hitting Jackson’s Focus with some force – whilst Osborne side-swiped the Vauxhall Astra ahead of him while trying to take evasive action.

    The unfortunate Bushell — who worked closely Butcher and prepared his Honda last season — later confirmed he had dislocated his shoulder as well as suffering ligament damage to his wrist, whilst all others involved emerged relatively unscathed.

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    Butcher — having originally blasted by Excelr8 Motorsport’s Proctor on the first getaway — had to do it all again on the restart, and that’s exactly what he did on the run down to turn one. The Scot was never headed again.

    The Fifer heads to the next round lying third in the championship, 33 points behind the Infiniti of Ash Sutton (above), who won the first two races at Knockhill, and 43 adrift of championship leader Colin Turkington’s BMW. The Irishman finished almost glued to the rear bumper of Sutton’s car in both opening races.

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    Dalkeith’s Aiden Moffat (above) produced his best weekend of the season when he bagged three top 10 finishes, bringing his Laser Tools Inifiniti home ninth, fifth and eighth.

    Related: Butcher eyes BTCC title with Motorbase

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    Jim McGill

    All photographs copyright of Jakob Ebrey

     

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