Motorbase Performance’s Rory Butcher said he was “so proud” to secure his second victory of the 2020 British Touring Car Championship season on home turf at Knockhill.
The Scot was especially pleased to have won the race on the road after inheriting the maiden victory for the new-for-2020 Ford Focus ST in race one at Oulton Park last time out following Josh Cook’s exclusion.
Moreover, Butcher was delighted to have bounced back after dropping to tenth in a difficult race two in which he told ITV he was “overdriving” and had to “reset” before heading into the final encounter.
“I felt after Oulton [Park], Josh drove so well in that race and I got handed the win. I didn’t want to take my first victory in the new car in that way so to do what we just did there on home ground, it’s made up for it.
“I’m so pleased for the team – I have had quite a difficult day – I was really pleased with race one, making up one place and getting past Cammish, that was great.
“But in race two I wasn’t really proud of my performance there, I kind of overdrove and I had to sit down after that and kind of reset.
“I’ve been getting superb starts this year, I’ve done a lot of studying into how to launch the car best and I was confident going into that race that I could lead it into turn one. On the road today we won and I’m so proud.”
The result – which leaves Butcher third in the standings nine points clear of Tom Oliphant – meant more to the Scot as he has such a connection with the Fife circuit, but lamented the fact fans could not attend to produce the usual special atmosphere.
“This event means so much to me, as soon as the calendar comes out at the start of the year it’s the one event that I look forward to,” he said.
“Normally you get all the Scottish fans here, and it really makes the event, you’ve got an incredible atmosphere.
“Unfortunately we didn’t have that today, but the Scottish marshals were waving the flag at the end of the race today so I got a little buzz from that!”