Butcher (GB Autosport): “This is Definitely a Change for Me”

Young Rory Butcher has over 30 victories to his credit, but after being signed by GB Autosport for the 2015 Rolex 24 At Daytona, the Scottish racer is aiming for his biggest win yet.

Butcher, who won the prestigious Formula Ford Festival in the Kent class in 2009, is making a dramatic scene change as he prepares for next weekend’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Silver-rated driver will share the driving duties in the No. 81 Tully’s Porsche GT America with Damien Faulkner, Michael Avenatti, Mike Skeen and Kuba Giermaziak.

“This is definitely a change for me,” said Butcher, who finished third in the 2013 Porsche Carrera Cup GB championship. “I have done endurance racing before, some last year, but nothing quite like this.

“The longest race I’ve ever done was three hours long, so this is going to be an interesting experience.

“But I have a good team of guys around me so it makes it easier to get used to it. I’m really grateful for the opportunity here with GB Autosport.”

The twice-around-the-clock classic will feature four classes of competition, with over 50 cars slated to take the green flag for the race.

“The traffic will be the biggest thing,” said Butcher. “Now that I had the chance to experience it at the Roar, I have a lot better idea of what to expect.

“It’s a bit wild out there with some of the closing speeds, but it’s just something you have to be prepared for.

“The (Continental) tires are another thing for me to adjust to. I was also able to get some laps in when it was wet so it was good to get a little bit of a feel for how the car was in those conditions.”

While in just its second season of competition, the team has already shown a keen eye for talent, providing opportunity for young promising racers in the GTD class.

“It has been a pleasure to get to know Rory; he is a fine young man and driver,” said GB Autosport team manager Cole Scrogham. “He is going to bring an excellent outlook to our team.

“We have already put him in some rather trying conditions on the track and he survived them well, as well as showing excellent speed. Once he figures out the circuit and the tires he is going to be a great asset for us at the 24.”

Butcher will be making his first-ever Rolex 24 start after a strong debut season of British GT competition in 2014.

The Scottish racer, who has known fellow GB Autosport pilot Faulkner for several years, fully understands the scope of what racing in the Rolex 24 means.

“My expectation of the race is that it’s going to be a massive challenge,” said Butcher, who scored multiple podiums racing an Aston Martin V12 Vantage in British GT competition last year.

“Being here at Daytona for the last few days testing I have seen that the competition is really high and we are really going to have to push so hard.

“It’s really down to making no mistakes, both as drivers and as mechanics in the pit stops and the car is going to have to last the whole time. So we just need a real smooth run.

“I think the first goal is to finish the race and then if we are quick enough we can hopefully get a good result.”