RORY BUTCHER roared to his first podium finish of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship season which he says is 'hugely encouraging' for his season prospects.
The Kirkcaldy-born star, who races for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, produced a fine drive to take second place during the finale of the latest race weekend to move up to eighth in the drivers' standings.
Butcher, whose father, Derek, was formerly the owner and CEO of Knockhill Racing Circuit, headed for Snetterton, Norfolk, at the weekend on the back of a sixth and a seventh place finish last time out at Brands Hatch Indy.
The 36-year-old finished eighth during qualifying and, in the curtain raiser, he fought well to stave off a marauding pack behind - including Dan Cammish, the championship leader going into the weekend - to finish ninth.
That was achieved on the less favourable harder Goodyear tyres - Snetterton required drivers to use all three compounds - and Butcher advanced to eighth in race two on the medium rubber.
He, however, saved his best for last in race three, producing his team's first podium finish of the season.
Running his Toyota Corolla GR Sport – run by Cheshire-based Speedworks Motorsport - car on soft tyres, the former BTCC Independents' title-winner put on a thrilling show for the capacity crowd, and those watching the action live on ITV4.
Having despatched multiple champions Ash Sutton and Colin Turkington, as well as Jake Hill on the first lap, he boldly passed Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley the following time around.
Next on Butcher’s ‘hit list’ was Dan Rowbottom, and after posting a new fastest lap, the 36-year-old made short work of his prey, before setting off in pursuit of reigning champion Tom Ingram in the lead.
READ MORE: Butcher backed for title tilt ahead of new touring car season
Ultimately, he had to concede to a charging Cammish, but a post-race disqualification for the NAPA Racing driver reinstated Butcher in second, providing him with his 30th career rostrum.
"Everybody in the team has been working their absolute socks off, and it was so good to bring some silverware back for them all and some buzz back to the garage," Butcher said.
"We took the pain on the hard tyres in race one, things were a bit better on the mediums in race two – which enabled us to stay in the mix – and then the car just switched on when we bolted on the softs.
"With a lot of the drivers around us on the grid on hards, we knew we needed to make hay, and I was so pleased to score our first podium of the year – that was a great reward for the whole team and it means a lot.
"We still clearly have a bit of speed to find, but we’re seeing the improvements and the result of all the effort that has been put in and we’re making good progress – and that’s hugely encouraging for the upcoming events."
Christian Dick, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK's team principal, added: "To achieve our first podium finish of the season was a fantastic way to conclude a challenging weekend and a real fillip for every single member of this team, who have all worked tirelessly in recent weeks to pull us up the grid."
“We took the decision to play the long game with Rory and George (Gamble, Butcher's team-mate), and it was a joy to watch Rory in the opening laps of race three as he clearly revelled in the Corolla’s performance and picked his rivals off in convincing fashion.
"It was a superb drive, and second place was no less than he and the whole team deserved."
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