Rory Butcher: I’ll take the gift of Donington win

Rory Butcher admitted that a first win of the BTCC season at Donington Park was ’emotional’ but also a gift that he would ‘100 per cent take’.

In what has proven to be a more challenging season than expected for the Speedworks-run Toyota Gazoo Racing UK squad, Butcher went into the weekend having scored just a single podium finish during the third meeting of the campaign at Snetterton.

Having qualified back in 14th place on the grid, Butcher worked to make up ground in races one and two to try and benefit from the reverse grid, with an eighth-place finish in race two meaning he would start race three from P5.

Having worked his way up into third, a fine move on Aron Taylor-Smith going down the Craner Curves saw Butcher move into second and when Dan Lloyd was then forced out on the final lap with driveshaft failure, the Scot took full advantage to open his win account for the season.

“The first race was pretty feisty, with a lot of nudging and overtaking, but we made it through unscathed and then strategically worked our way up the order again in race two,” he said. “The Corolla was really strong in race three, and there was plenty of clean, door-to-door racing, which was great.

“I felt so sorry for Dan – that was his win and he definitely deserved a trophy having driven so well, but at the same time, I was really happy to bring it back for the team because they deserve it too after all the hard work that everybody has put in.

“It was an emotional result for me, and super-cool to do it at our home event in front of so many people from TMUK. I was gifted that one, unquestionably, but after the season we’ve had, I will 100 per cent take it…”