Fifer Rory Butcher signalled his intentions to lift the British GT4 Championship when he bagged a win and second-place in the traditional Easter Monday opening double-header at Oulton Park.
And the 22-year-old from Dunfermline, who dominated the Scottish Formula Ford Championship last year, emphasised his pace by posting the fastest lap in both races behind the wheel of his Prestige Car Leasing KTM.
“That’s a great way to start the new season,” Butcher, who was partnered by Englishman Ben Harvey in both 60-minute races, said today. “We were unlucky not to win the first race, but we made amends in the second race.”
Butcher, who took the second leg of the first race at the 2.7-mile Cheshire circuit, was pipped by just 0.436secs by the Ginetta of Christian Dick and Jamie Stanley.
But the Scot was in blistering form for the second counter as he established a significant lead before handing the car over to Harvey. The duo eventually finished 22.961s ahead of Dick and Stanley.
“This was my first real taste of endurance racing and to win one race and finish on the podium in the other is brilliant,” Butcher admitted. “It really sets the season up perfectly for us.”
The next double-header in the championship is at Knockhill on May 8/9.
JM