Kirkcaldy's Rory Butcher signs for Toyota

Kirkcaldy racing driver Rory Butcher (Pic: Jakob Ebrey)

Butcher has signed for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK in the British Touring Car Championship which gets underway in March.

He said he was eager to get started in what will be his debut for a Manufacturer-backed outfit.

“I feel hugely proud to be wearing and defending the Toyota Gazoo Racing UK colours and I will give it my absolute all both on and off-track,” he said.

“I’ve known [team principal] Christian Dick for some time, going back to when we raced against each other in British GT in 2010.

"We battled it out for the GT4 title that year, so I’ve always had a lot of respect for him and have taken note of what Speedworks have achieved in the BTCC, especially in recent seasons.

“Over the past couple of years, we had a few casual conversations about maybe working together at some stage, and when the opportunity finally presented itself, I jumped at it.”

Butcher will be partnered on the driving front by Sam Smelt, and will also make his 100th BTCC start in the first race of the campaign at Thruxton on 9 May.

“This will be only my fourth full season in the BTCC, and the Corolla will be the fifth touring car I’ve driven so hopefully I can bring some of that knowledge to its continued development and perhaps even improve it further,” he said.

“It was arguably the most competitive car on the grid by the end of 2020 – the team definitely seems to have a proper handle on it now in all conditions and both with or without ballast, so I can’t wait to get behind the wheel to experience it for myself.

“Over the past 12 months, I really feel like I’ve matured as a driver, and I’m now much more capable of looking at the bigger picture and putting a championship campaign together.

"I obviously had a good crack at that last year, and whilst things didn’t ultimately go my way, that’s just part of the learning curve and it has unquestionably made me stronger.

“It’s all about racking up the points in this game – the podiums and wins are a bonus – and there’s no reason at all why we shouldn’t be fighting at the front right from the start.”