Motorbase’s Rory Butcher is aiming to turn a ‘wave of pressure into positive energy’ as he heads to his home round of the British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill this weekend.
Butcher enjoyed his best weekend of the season last weekend at Oulton Park, where the Scot claimed an inherited victory in race one, second in race two and a solid points score with eighth in race three.
The 33-year-old admits that he is still keen to claim an outright victory by crossing the line first in a race, rather than inheriting one through a rival’s penalty, as happened last weekend when Josh Cook was excluded for failing the ride height.
Butcher says he will still take the points any way they come, as he rose to third overall in the drivers’ championship standings after Oulton Park.
“It was the weekend that we really needed,” said Butcher of his Cheshire weekend, where he was the highest scorer over the three races. “We got another pole position which was such a great feeling to do that, and it put us in the best place for Sunday’s races.
“We will inherit the points and take the trophy for race one but I’m eager to get that first win in this car across the line. It is unfinished business.
“The pressure is even higher at home. I will definitely try and ride that wave of pressure and turn it into a positive energy.
“I can’t wait to get to my home circuit. I know the place like the back of my hand. I’m really excited to see how this new car will handle the Knockhill circuit.”
Team Principal David Bartrum wants to be able to celebrate a win on the track in the dry, after the team missed out on the euphoria of celebrating a win as it happened at Oulton Park.
“A win is a win,” said Bartrum. “I would have liked to have had it on our own on in the dry though.
“I feel sorry for Josh Cook because the driver didn’t do anything wrong it is just one of those things that can happen.
“I’m over the moon to get the first win for the new Focus though. The car has been great out of the box.
“It has been in the mix from day one since it turned up to qualifying in Donington. We have now got our first win, Rory is up to third in the championship and now we are off to Knockhill.
“The Focus has tended to go well up there. I feel sorry for Rory that he won’t have a crowd there [due to COVID-19 restrictions].
“I think the home spirit will be high and I hope we get the benefit of that as a team. Not only does Rory know every kerb at Knockhill, he has worked there so he has probably painted every kerb.
“Hopefully we can put that knowledge to good use for our drivers.”