Derek Butcher, Knockhill owner and CEO talks to Duncan Vincent about the history of Knockhill and the rise to Touring Car stardom of son Rory – who’ll compete at Knockhill (his home track) during the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship – Lokring Northern (UK) sponsored event in association with Liqui Moly over the weekend of 14/15 September.
Dunc takes Derek back to the early days of Knockhill, they discuss previous owners, the use of the venue and then recap on Derek’s ownership of the track since 1983. Over the years, Derek has seen it all at Knockhill, including one fateful summer’s evening in 2003 when the circuit hosted the mighty Status Quo; through to the 1995 British Touring Car meeting that saw an incredible 25,000 people rock through the Knockhill turnstiles to watch Britain’s best-loved saloon car racing series.
Derek also reflects on Rory’s progress from karting (aged 8 years) through to racing bikes and Fiestas when he was just a teenager. He’s witnessed Rory carve a career out of motorsport, the pinnacle of which, thus far, would be to see Rory win a BTCC race on home soil.
Knockhill has hosted the BTCC event for the last 26 years (barring 2003 when the series skipped its annual pilgrimage north) and Derek has been here for them all. He gives Duncan his insights into the event and what people can expect when they come to Knockhill in September for the next round.
It’s a nice, informal chat with the top man at Knockhill with some terrific insights from Derek who is excited to see what his 27th BTCC event as circuit owner brings… it could be his most memorable yet, for sentimental reasons, if all goes well.
Hopefully, you’ll be joining us over the weekend of 14/15 September for a veritable feast of motorsports action, and with only 11 days to go until we have our first glimpse of the current crop of BTCC racers on track, the excitement and tension will only intensify in the coming days.
See you on raceday!
