Rory Butcher feeling more at home with Toyota ahead of Oulton Park

Rory Butcher has expressed confidence about his chances if fighting at the sharp end the BTCC season resumes this weekend at Oulton Park.

The Scot sits tenth in the points going into round four having scored a single podium so far in his Speedworks-run Toyota Corolla.

Butcher also posted his first fastest lap in the car last time out at Brands Hatch, and showed strong pace in mixed conditions during the Goodyear tyre test at Oulton Park earlier this month.

As a result, he will now hope to impress at a circuit where he won last season as the team seeks a first victory of the campaign.

“Although we aren’t sure exactly where we stack up in relation to our competitors as you never know what kind of programme other teams are following, I feel confident that we are in a very good place with the Corolla right now,” he said, referencing the times at the test.

“Myself and my race engineer Paul [Ridgway] are working extremely well, and I’m really beginning to get my head around the car – it no longer feels like we’re missing something.

“I have to say, Oulton Park is an awesome circuit and I love going there. Track position will be crucial on race day, so qualifying is key, and the circuit’s steep gradients and undulations mean carrying ballast will hurt.

“Fortunately, we have very little ballast on-board at the moment, so hopefully we can really hit the ground running from the outset and then just focus on fine-tuning, with the firm aim of putting the Corolla right up at the pointy end of the grid.