British GT race winner Rory Butcher returns to the championship at Donington Park next weekend as part of Beechdean AMR’s new look GT3 entry.
The Scot won twice en route to fourth in last year’s standings and will contest a round of his domestic series for the first time since challenging Andrew Howard, whom he partners at Donington, for the title at the same venue 12 months ago.
Snetterton was the first time in five years that Beechdean AMR’s flagship GT3 entry had been missing from a British GT grid after suffering heavy damage during the previous race at Spa-Francorchamps.
The team’s decision to bring Butcher into its fold hinged on his speed and previous experience of the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3, with which he contested the 2015 campaign as part of Motorbase Performance’s British GT squad.
It was also important to find a suitable replacement for Ross Gunn whose GT4 cameo in the absence of his usual GT3 mount at Snetterton has been extended to a second weekend in an effort to help co-driver Jack Bartholomew secure the class title.
Howard and Butcher have competed against each other in the same European Le Mans Series class this year but will put that rivalry to one side at Donington.
"Having spent most of the year racing against Andrew in ELMS I am looking forward to being on the same team as him for a change," said Butcher. We will be looking for a great result at the last round of British GT."
Advanced tickets, which start at just £12.60, for next weekend’s #DoningtonDecider can be purchased here.