Knock Out at Knockhill! Porsche Carrera Cup Gb- Knockhill Rounds 12-13
Porsche Carrera Cup Gb- Knockhill Rounds 12-13
by Rory Butcher
I produced one of the drives of my career at Knockhill on Sunday it was just a shame that I had to do it from the back of the pack. The whole weekend had been so much fun and I still can't believe the amount of sponsors, friends and family that showed up to cheer me on. I must say a big thanks to everyone for being there and showing their support!
The spectator bankings were filled with a record home support!
I felt really good in practice especially on used tyres and was really confident of qualifying well. The pace had been extremely hot all weekend but too close to call with fractions of a second covering the field.
I entered qualifying with the understanding that I needed to be on the first two rows if I was to challenge for race wins but it was always going to be tough, On my first qualifying run I set a time of 50.7s – which is actually the quickest I have ever done in a Porsche at Knockhill. I was second at that point, but the times came down further and I quickly dropped to 5th so I had to go back out improve my time. A red flag, after Daniel Lloyd spun at Scotsman corner, meant the session was stopped and I had just eight minutes to pull a lap out of the bag. I gave everything and I ended up positing a couple of 50.7s and then hooked up a 50.5, which surpassed the fastest ever Porsche Carrera Cup lap around Knockhill but was only good enough for second place behind Michael Meadows.
I felt really calm and was full of confidence going into the first race. I was a little bit nervous because I was so keen to put on a show. I got off the line well and was really pushing Michael Meadows for the first couple of laps. If anything, I missed a chance to take him at the Hairpin. If I had made that stick, it would have worked out perfectly because the safety car was deployed straight afterwards. For some reason I could not find that pace once the race restarted and Meadows pulled a gap, but I was able to build a gap back to Lloyd. Second place was a strong result and it was great to hear all the cheers as I drove back to the pits and then went on to the podium. We have been seeking this kind of result and it put some great points on the championship board for us.
I would like to dedicate this podium to all my sponsors who have shown so much support.
The team worked really hard to find some extra time out of the car and I closely analysed my driving so we could challenge Meadows in race 2. With a little bit more performance I really believed I could go one better.
I got a good start, but Stoneman got a flier and I held him on to the right-hand side of the road then switched to the left in the braking zone to open up Duffus Dip. Dean followed me but it seemed he made no attempt to turn into the corner and made contact with my Celtic Speed Porsche. I was shunted into the gravel at high speed, I just about hung on and rejoined in sixth place but with my rear bumper hanging off and front splitter missing. I managed to make up two places over the next few laps but then the officials called me into the pits to fix the damage. The Celtic Speed boys did a phenomenal job and made a blisteringly quick repair. Jamie Cleland replaced the splitter and the rest of the boys taped up the bumper.
I was last, but I went for it. Every lap was on the limit, but it felt smooth and tidy (most of the time!). I was channelling my anger in the right way, and I made up almost four seconds on winner Meadows during the race. I don’t think I have ever driven better than that. My last lap was just four tenths off my fastest lap in that race with tyres which had taken over 30 laps of abuse around Knockhills high kerbs, twists and turns.
The Stoneman incident left the Celtic Speed team and I with a lot to think about. At the time I even felt he was looking for me and the stewards obviously felt something similar because they took nine championship points off him, put points on his licence and I understand the Porsche Carrera Cup GB series officials are considering a two race ban.
The stewards’ decision means it is very tight between Stoneman, Lloyd and me in the championship for third position. I am gunning for that podium spot now- I really want it badly. The controversies have fired me up. I don’t like being on the receiving end, but I am going to use it as a positive at Rockingham Super Speedway in three weeks.
Once again, I’d like to say a big thank you to Celtic Speeds Team Principal Tommy Dreelan and the following companies for their continued and loyal support;
Advantec Aberdeen Ltd
Agrii
Angel Wax
Caledonia Print
Dalkeith Transport
Harley Hepburn Accountants
21 Hospitality Group
Houseman Drylining
Intrafusion Website Design and Development
John Young Signs
J Gilmour Painter and Decorators Kirkcaldy
Knockhill Racing Circuit
McDonald Engineers
Mind And Body Studio
Production Glassfibre
Scotcars
Short Term Finance
William Waugh Ltd
William Johnston and Company
© Celtic Speed 2026
