Fife racer Rory Butcher is ready to stake a claim for 2014 success with a top-ranking British GT Championship outfit.
The 27-year-old has bagged a seat in a Motorbase Performance Aston Martin V12 Vantage as the crack team look to reclaim the crown they won in 2012.
Following two successful seasons with Celtic Speed in the pro class of the Porsche Carrera Cup which reaped five race wins and 19 podiums, Butcher is thrilled to be joining an Avon Tyres British GT series which is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested seasons of recent years.
A string of iconic marques will be involved in the chase for GT3 glory across seven rounds at circuits including Brands Hatch and Belgium’s Spa Francorchamps.
Kirkcaldy-based Butcher is familiar to many as an instructor at Knockhill, where he has recently taken on a new role in the events team, and told The Courier next month’s Oulton Park opener cannot come quick enough.
“I am delighted to be joining Motorbase Performance, running under the Oman Air Racing banner for 2014,” he said.
“Their pedigree and track record are superb having won the GT title in 2012. The switch to a two-driver format where tactics and strategy play such an important part is something I am looking forward to.
Butcher’s team mate will be ex-Le Mans 24 hour runner John Hartshorne and the Fifer is already hugely impressed by the Motorbase set-up and the V12 Aston, brimming with technology and boasting some 600 horsepower.
“Everything came together quite late, but I’ve driver the car and it is just unbelievable,” said Rory.
“I’ve driven the Porsches for the past three years and they felt quick, but this is something else. It has huge amounts of power and grip and I think there’s still a bit of pace to be found,” he added.
Butcher, who was Scottish Formula Ford champion in 2009 and followed that up with a GT4 gategory British GT series second place the following year, is also looking forward to getting to grips with the challenge of longer race distances of up to three hours.
He added: “This new adventure just wouldn’t be possible without the sponsorship which is such a big thing these days. l’m very appreciative that I have a some very special sponsors. Hopefully, we can make a huge splash this year and reward them with some valuable exposure.”
It will be a busy season for the Motorbase team as they embark on a British GT Championship and Blancpain Endurance Series challenge, whilst also running three Ford Focuses in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship under the Airwaves and Crabbie’s Racing banners.