Jersey-based GT front-runner Jack Butel will join the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship in 2020, as he replaces Daniel Rowbottom at Carlube Triple R Racing.
Jack, will bring long-time backer Lucas Batteries with him to support his BTCC aspirations and line-up in one of Ciceley Motorsport's Mercedes-Benz A-Class cars for the 2020 race season.
Jack has raced under the Ciceley Motorsport banner before at the 2020 24hr of Dubai, in the team’s Mercedes GTS GT4 after catching the eye of team boss Russell Morgan while competing for other teams in the past. Russell was immediately impressed with Butel’s determination, raw pace, attitude and application both at and away from trackside.
Jack’s racing career began in karting, winning the first of his titles – the Jersey Junior Max 125cc Championship in 2011 – before going on to secure the 125cc Gearbox Championship in 2012.
The 24-year-old has raced a wide variety of cars – from single seaters to LMP3 – he won two races in Dubai in 2018 and was subsequently selected as an Aston Martin academy driver in 2019.
He also has experience in TCR machinery and carried out a full test in the Ciceley Motorsport-run Mercedes-Benz BTCC car earlier this week.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me, joining the British Touring Car Championship grid is a dream come true,” said an ecstatic Jack. “I have so many people to thank… firstly my parents for their unwavering support, Carlube Triple R Racing and Lucas Batteries for their financial backing and Ciceley Motorsport for their belief in me as a driver.
“I will be taking the first part of the year as a learning curve preparing for 2021, but with help from Adam Morgan and the engineering team, hope to be able to secure some impressive results towards the latter part of the campaign. The opportunity has come at literally the eleventh hour, I just can’t wait to get cracking.”
Ciceley Motorsport Commercial Director Norman Burgess said: “We are delighted to welcome Jack back to the team. I have worked with him before with our GT4 team in Dubai and his enthusiasm is infectious, he just wouldn’t leave the team’s engineer alone, his thirst for data interpretation and improvement held no bounds.
“This is a part-funded drive and Russell was insistent that the team signed Jack, he like us all at Ciceley Motorsport, believe that he has the natural ability to deliver the results we require. Adam and Jack enjoy a great relationship and have been racing together on their simulators during the lockdown period. Jack, his sponsor and family fit our team dynamic perfectly.”
Tetrosyl Chairman Peter Schofield said: “We would like to welcome Jack to the Carlube Triple R Racing team. We are all excited here at Tetrosyl to see the drivers finally take to the track and we wish him and Adam all the best for the season.”
Team Carlube Triple R Racing has also welcomed Lucas Batteries in to the team.
The opening rounds of the Kwik Fit MSA British Touring Car Championship will be held at Donington Park, on August 1/2 with live and exclusive raceday coverage on ITV4.
