![Rory Butcher, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK [Speedworks Motorsport], Toyota Corolla GR Sport NGTC](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RoryButcher-1.jpg "Photo: Pat Cranham")
Rory Butcher was in a confident mood heading to the first round of the British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park, as the Toyota driver enters his first season with the same team and car in the series.
Ever since joining the BTCC full-time in 2018, Butcher has changed steed each year, and he has also only once stayed with the same team for more than a season.
The 35-year-old admits that staying with both Toyota Gazoo Racing UK and the Toyota Corolla has given him renewed confidence for the 2022 season.
Despite the continuity, Butcher still has a number of changes to deal with. The entire field has the new hybrid system to get to grips with, whilst the Speedworks motorsport team also has to adapt to running the new TOCA engine, developed by M-Sport.
“If I’m honest I’m not finding [the hybrid system] too big of an issue, although it’s added a little bit of weight to the car,” said Butcher to TouringCars.Net.
“We have got a new engine and we have got this hybrid system, but fundamentally I’m in the same chassis and I’ve got the same people around me and I think that’s quite a key thing for me.
“I’ve never had that before in BTCC so I’m really welcoming that continuity.
“The thing is, everybody is in the same boat. We’ve all got the new hybrid system and we have to get our head around that.
“I’m in a good position where I’ve got people that I trust around me who believe in me and it’s a nice feeling.”
At the media day test at Thruxton, Butcher was just 15th in the combined lap times from the morning and afternoon sessions, but the Scot was unfazed by his raw pace on the day.
“I feel like we’ve arrived at Thruxton and whilst this wasn’t our strongest circuit last year, I feel like the changes we’ve made have made the car feel great.
“The lap time isn’t quite there yet, I’m not sure why, but the car is giving me tonnes of confidence. I feel that by Round 1 we’ll be there at the front.”
Butcher, like many drivers in the field, hasn’t yet decided how the best way to deploy the new hybrid system on a race weekend will be.
“You’ve just got to find the areas where deploying the hybrid is going to have the biggest effect in qualifying. Most circuits will only have two or three places where it’s worth using.
“In a race you might have to use it in other areas to defend or attack and I think that’s what’s going to be interesting.
“I think you’ll just have to do that on the hop – you can’t plan too much, it’s just use it when you need it and hope for the best in the other areas that you’re not going to get passed.”
The 2022 BTCC kicks off at Donington Park this weekend.