Motorbase Performance’s Rory Butcher says his focus is to end the year on a high after qualifying on the front row for the opening British Touring Car Championship contest of the 2020 season finale at Brands Hatch.
The Scot improved his position late in a dramatic qualifying session, initially taking provisional pole position before ultimately losing out to Tom Ingram’s Toyota Corolla by just 0.024s.
Despite being in mathematical contention for the title, Butcher admitted that he believes “the pressure is off now,” and is keen to cap off the maiden season of the new-for-2020 Ford Focus ST with “really positive” results to carry momentum into the winter.
“It was all about finding that window, I was setting up the car throughout the session and then it came,” explained Butcher. “We got that lap at the end and for a moment we were on pole and then Tom just pipped us.
“It’s not my title to win this year, I’m a bit like Tom in that the pressure’s off now. We’re so far off in terms of points that our focus is just to have a good end to the year and go into the winter feeling really positive.
“We’ve started the weekend really well with a front row start and we just need to keep that going.”
The opening race of the 2020 British Touring Car Championship season finale is scheduled to get underway at 10:00 BST tomorrow [15 November].