Rory Butcher will return to Motorbase Performance for the 2020 British Touring Car Championship season, with the Scot partnering Ollie Jackson in a Ford Focus RS at the Kent-based team.
Butcher, 32, made his BTCC début with Motorbase in 2017 when he took over the team’s third entry which had been used by Luke Davenport until a huge crash at Croft.
Butcher immediately impressed, claiming a pair of top ten finishes in his first meeting at his home circuit Knockhill.
After a year in MG machinery with AmD Tuning, Butcher then competed at the wheel of a Honda Civic in 2019, becoming a title contender and claiming three victories on his way to fifth overall in the drivers’ championship standings.
Butcher will now return to Motorbase, with whom he has also previously raced for in Porsche machinery, to fight for the overall title in 2020.
“David Bartrum and Motorbase launched me on my British touring car journey, and it feels like ‘coming home’ to go back to the team,” said the reigning Independents’ champion.
“There are some very exciting plans for the 2020 season and to be in on the ground floor of those developments really motivates me.
“I have tasted glory in the Independents Trophy, which was a huge achievement, but my sights are set higher. I want more wins, and the overall championship is my aim.
“I know that I might not have the touring car experience of some of the guys out there in but I am working relentlessly to absorb all the information I can and push myself, and Motorbase, forward to go for the biggest prizes we can reach.”
Team Principal Bartrum is delighted to welcome back Butcher to the squad, after his two seasons away at AmD.
“I’m delighted to welcome Rory back for 2020,” said Bartrum. “We have worked with Rory in GTs in the past and saw his abilities then which lead to us giving him his BTCC debut in 2017.
“We’ve obviously kept a very close eye on his progression since then. Over the last two seasons, he’s learnt a lot and has matured into a driver capable of a championship challenge.
“With Ollie and Rory, we have a great pairing to work with and we’re confident going into the new season.
“I have quoted on a couple of occasions that Rory was only ever ‘on loan’ and would be back with us one day.
“This year that has proven to be the case and we’re all ready to put the hard work into make 2020 a great season for Motorbase.”