Andy Wilmot will replace Jack Butel at Excelr8 Motorsport for the British Touring Car Championship season finale at Brands Hatch this weekend, as the Jersey racer has been ruled out on medical grounds.
Butel was involved in an incident in the final race at Donington Park, which has resulted in him being ruled out on medical grounds after suffering from a concussion.
The 25-year-old had begun to break into the top twenty on a regular basis in recent meetings and was becoming a more regular challenger for points.
Wilmot has not raced in the BTCC since 2015, and he has never raced on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in a BTCC car, having only completed a half-season with Welch Motorsport that season.
Over the past six seasons, Wilmot has instead competed in series such as the Renault Clio Cup and the Volkswagen Racing Cup, which he won in 2020.
He has also competed in TCR UK, racing at selected events in a Vauxhall Astra TCR and CUPRA TCR.
Butel is disappointed to miss the season finale of his second year in the BTCC, but added that he will be supporting Wilmot in his Hyundai i30 N Fastback this weekend.
“This season has been going so well for me, and I was really looking forward to returning to Brands Hatch for the finale having scored my first BTCC points there last season,” said Butel.
“To now be ruled out on medical grounds is really tough, and I’m gutted that my campaign has ended on a low with what happened at Donington Park.
“Although I’m disappointed that I won’t be able to take part this weekend, the year has been a hugely positive one for me and I think I’ve made a massive amount of progress.
“I’ve scored multiple points finishes, won a Jack Sears Trophy and set a purple sector time which have all been huge achievements, and I hope that it can give me a platform to come back again in 2022 and challenge for the Jack Sears title.
“Although it will be weird to see someone else driving my car, it’s great for Andy to have the chance to step in for the weekend and I’ll be there to cheer him on from the sidelines.”
Wilmot admitted that the opportunity to re-join the BTCC grid for the first time in over six years was quite unexpected.
“When I got the call from Derek [Butel] to ask if I wanted to step in to replace Jack for Brands Hatch, I think I replied to say yes without having to even think about it,” said Wilmot.
“This is a massively unexpected opportunity, but one that I am looking forward to as it will give me a chance to go out there and compete in the BTCC with a decent car underneath me, which hasn’t been the case in the past.
“I know that Excelr8 build and engineer a great car having worked with them all year in a consultant role, and I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel.
“I haven’t done much racing this season but when I joined the grid in TCR UK, I didn’t take long to get up to speed and hopefully it will be the same this weekend.
“I want to go out there and enjoy myself – I’m not going to set any wild targets as the rest of the field has been racing all season and I’m coming in at the last minute.
“If I can stay with the pack, get involved and make up some ground in the races then it will be a job well done.”