Rory Butcher keeping busy whilst off the track

The champion race ace says that among other things he’s been competing online, much like many other of the Formula 1 drivers whilst motorsport has been put on hold.

“I have a home built sim which is PC based,” he said, “I use a Thrustmaster T300RS steering wheel with Fanatic Clubsport v3 pedals and an Oculus Rift VR headset.

“These are good quality items but are definitely on the entry level side compared to some of the super sims out there, but I get what I need from them and use them purely as a training tool.

“My goal is to make the experience as immersive as possible and find the VR headset makes you feel like you’re actually in the race car.

“My go-to simulator platform is iRacing but I also use Assetto Corsa and Project Cars 2 if iRacing doesn’t have the car or track model that I want to practice.

“All three simulator platforms provide tracks and cars using real life data so it’s very close to the real thing!”

Butcher has also taken time to watch motorsport documentaries, with a host available on streaming services.

“My favourite motorsport documentary is currently F1 – Drive to Survive.

“There are two series with 10 episodes each, which go behind the scenes of the teams and drivers throughout the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

“To me, F1 can be a bit predictable at times, but this documentary shows a different side to the championship and uncovers the drama and rivalries within the paddock.

“There is a lot of swearing, and I mean a lot, which gives an uncut/raw feel. In some ways the relationships behind closed doors are more exciting than the racing on track and this is proven by the fact that my wife binge watched both series with me.”

Turning off the TV and putting down the laptop, Butcher has also been reading books on the sport.

“I’d strongly recommend ‘Driving on the Edge – The Art and Science of Race Driving’ by sportscar driver Michael Krumm.

“He breaks down skills, techniques and scenarios set by step, making for easy learning.

“The book has great explanations of technical terms, setting out the principles behind driving, the sport and how to improve performance.”