An interview with… Rory Butcher

Amongst even the most casual fan of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, Scottish star Rory Butcher needs no introduction.

The 34-year-old from Kirkcaldy currently races a Toyota Corolla GR Sport for the Motul-partnered Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, operated behind-the-scenes by title-winning outfit Speedworks Motorsport.

Having started in the UK’s premier tin-top series back in 2017, Butcher quickly demonstrated why he brought a plethora of GT and single seater accolades to the grid, and has since added seven race victories, a further nine podium finishes and an independents title to his already-strong resume.

But motorsport runs much deeper in Butcher’s veins than your average driver; his father Derek raced on both two wheels and four, sister Jillian enjoyed several years fighting at the front in both tin-tops and single seaters, and brother-in-law Gordon Shedden is a triple champion and one of his biggest rivals on the BTCC grid.

Butcher’s family also own Knockhill Racing Circuit, the scene of his early forays into the world’s fastest sport.

“My introduction to motorsport came through family members,” he explains. “My Dad raced bikes and cars and my sister raced cars as well, so the path was already laid out for me.

“My first ever race was in a go-kart at the age of eight years old, I didn’t even make it to the start line! I managed to crash, actually flip the go-kart, bend the chassis and we had to go home.

“My first ever car race was in 2005, so we’ll call it 16 years and over 20 to 25 different championships I’ve competed in. My first race in the BTCC was at my home race in Scotland in 2017, and I hadn’t done anything like that previously, it was all GT racing and single seaters. It just blew my mind.”

Butcher’s career trajectory from that first meeting at Knockhill would carry him through three full seasons in the BTCC, including the sought-after Jack Sears Trophy and an Independents title to bolster the trophy cabinet at home.

It was all change for 2021, however, with a move to replace the departing Tom Ingram at Speedworks alongside new team-mate, Sam Smelt.

“I made the move to Speedworks Motorsport in 2021. It was a culmination of several decisions, behind the scenes Motorbase was changing ownership, and at the same time, Tom Ingram was moving on to a different team as well,” explains Butcher.

“One door closed and another opened, and I’m really, really pleased to be working with Christian and Amy, Speedworks and Toyota Gazoo Racing UK, it’s such a fantastic team and without Motul, we definitely wouldn’t be winning races and fighting for a championship.”

Butcher’s Toyota Corolla GR Sport is a thoroughbred racing machine, however much it might resemble its road-going counterpart. Having Motul’s products running through its veins is one factor in enabling the team to compete at the very front of national motorsport, as Butcher details.

“I want to push myself to be the best I can be, and I think having the Motul products inside our engine and gearbox gives me the confidence to push them to their limit and know that they’re going to last the race and the season,” he commented.

Reflecting on a rollercoaster start to the season so far, Butcher admits that his start to life in the Motul-branded Toyota wasn’t as he’d expected it to be but feels both driver and team have worked hard to put the car in a sweeter spot going forward.

“I think it’s been a difficult start to the year, I didn’t adapt to the Toyota as quickly as I’d have liked, but it’s amazing how that’s changed in the space of a couple of rounds. The car is in a window where I’m really feeling confident with it, and it showed at Oulton – we nearly got a front row start, and then I won the second race.”

Looking ahead to the future, Butcher’s chief goal is to emulate brother-in-law Gordon and become a BTCC champion, but he also fancies a go at the world-famous Le Mans 24 Hours in deference to his GT racing background.

“My ultimate goal in motorsport is to become the British Touring Car Champion. I’ve also got a background in GT racing and would love to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours, it’s definitely the pinnacle of sportscar racing and something that I’ve never done before.”

Witham Motorsport proud to support and work with a number of race drivers, teams and garages. To read more about who uses Motul oils and to shop the full range, please click here.