Racing on hold for Kirkcaldy's Rory Butcher as start of British Touring Car season suspended
Kirkcaldy racer Rory Butcher has put the handbrake on the new season with all motorsport currently on hold due to coronavirus.
The launch of the 2020 KwikFit British Touring Championship took place at Silverstone Circuit two weeks ago where Butcher's newly built Ford Focus ST posted the fourth quickest time of the day.
It was a promising outing for the 32-year-old ahead of the new campaign, which was due to start at Donington Park last weekend, but governing body Motorsport UK has suspended all racing until the end of June.
Butcher said: "The future certainly looks bright for my new chariot and we have a good feeling in the Motorbase Performance camp.
"However, there is a more important thing to address while we are all in this very uncertain and worrying time surrounding Covid-19.
"Motorsport UK is playing its role in helping delay the spread and take strain off the NHS as the governing body has now suspended all events until the end of June.
"This decision allows an achievable timeline for all parties to work towards and the BTCC is putting measures in place to ensure that the series completes all 10 events in the second half of 2020.
"Although things are changing daily I am encouraged to know that we could get back to doing what we love in the summer."
As it stands, the BTCC is scheduled to start at Snetterton on the weekend of July 25-26.