Celtic Speed Romp to Victory at Rockingham
by Rory Butcher
After all the trials and tribulations we have had this year, Rockingham was pretty close to the perfect weekend and you can’t help but smile after two Porsche Carrera Cup GB victories.
The whole Celtic Speed team has known we have the ability to dominate a meeting like this, we just have not had the breaks this year. The team worked extremely hard to improve the car over the weekend and I was able to maximise the performance. It was satisfying to know that we grafted for each win and used the knowledge and experience we have built up, making the most of opportunities as they arrived.The result was a happy Celtic Speed team, a delighted driver and a championship table that saw me move up two places to third and with a healthy gap to fourth place as we head to Silverstone.
It was so close in qualifying. Pole position looked liked ours mid way through the session, but Lloyd took the top spot and Meadows pipped us to the post in the closing stages. I had to be happy with third place for both races as I had built up some momentum through practice and was pleased with how the car felt in qualifying.
I knew that if I got a good start, the long run down to turn two would give me a chance of making up some positions. But, no Rory Butcher race this year would be smooth sailing!
Daniel Lloyd and Michael Meadows got a better start than me, but I hung in there and held off a challenge from Dan De Zille in to turn two. Meadows took the lead from Lloyd and so I started the hunt for the leading duo. The car felt so good below me as I pressured Lloyd for second and as we accelerated through the flat out banked turn 1 I managed to get a good cut-back on Lloyd and then made the move up the inside of turn two. Meadows had pulled a 1.2 sec lead but I started to claw back a tenth or two of a second each lap. I gave it everything I had and at one point I glanced the famous Rockingham wall, which wasn't fun at 150mph. I spent a lap checking out what was different with the car, but it still felt like I could push. Then the rain came down and I just had to keep the temperature in the slick tyres and push as hard as I could. As I closed in on Meadows, he made a mistake when he put a couple of wheels on the wet exit kerb coming out of Gracelands and spun into the tyre barrier. As I took the lead the safety car was deployed so the marshals could clear Meadows broken car. The race restarted and I shot away pulling a gap on Lloyd and Glezinas to secure our maiden victory in the 2013 season.
It was certainly exciting, with plenty of drama – but I was just delighted to have got the win for me and the Celtic Speed team. The lads were jumping up and down on top of the pit wall as I crossed the finish line - what a feeling!
In race two, it was wet but there was no standing water so it was going to be really tricky not to overheat the wet tyres which are extremely soft. My strategy was to be as smooth as possible to protect the rear tyres which take so much abuse from the Porsches 450bhp. I got a flyer off the start shooting passed Meadows and then challenging Lloyd in to turn 2, but he nipped ahead under braking with a brave move around the outside. But I managed to get a cut-back out of turn three and snuck past Lloyd to take the lead. Daniel made a number of challenges in the early laps and almost made them stick but I held position. It was all about fending him off while keeping a smooth driving style on the drying track to save the melting rear tyres. I knew if I could keep the tyres sweet for the last five laps I would be in a strong position. It all came together and we took our second victory of the day and of the 2013 season.
It was a big relief as I really wanted a win before the end of the year, but to get two in one weekend is pretty special. It showed what we are really capable of doing and gives us a huge boost going into the final two rounds. We are third overall and have a good cushion over Daniel Lloyd in fourth, I can’t ask for more.
We head to Silverstone in two weeks time for the penultimate round of the season which is sure to be just as exciting.
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
