Rory Butcher lands full-time BTCC deal for 2018 with AMD Tuning

The 31-year-old long-time sportscar racer was called up by Motorbase for the final four events of 2017 following the Croft qualifying accident that left Luke Davenport injured.

Shaun Hollamby's AmD team has taken over the running of the MGs from Triple Eight this season, and had already announced BTCC returnee Tom Boardman as one of its drivers.

It is also still fielding a pair of Audis, in which it will run Ollie Jackson and Sam Smelt.

"My move into the BTCC last season was all a bit last minute and I was thrown in at the deep end for my debut on home soil at Knockhill, so I was determined to try and get a place on the grid this year to build on what I learned from the final four rounds of 2017 and to start building a long-term BTCC career," said Bucher.

"In January, it looked like it wasn't going to be possible but then I spoke to Shaun about the MG and with a lot of effort from the team and from my sponsors - who were eager to join me in the BTCC - we've been able to pull together a deal, which I'm absolutely delighted about.

"Twelve months ago, I didn't imagine I would be racing in the BTCC but there is no better place for me to be in terms of profile.

"The series is the very pinnacle of British Motorsport and I'm really excited about the prospect of a full season on track with AmD in 2018."

Butcher raced on the BTCC support bill in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB from 2011-13 and was a multiple race-winner, before stepping up to international sportscar racing via the British GT Championship.

He came close to winning the European Le Mans Series GTE class title in 2016 alongside Rob Smith and Andrea Bertolini.

The best results of Butcher's BTCC stint last year were a pair of ninth places on his series debut weekend at Knockhill.

"Rory is a driver who we have been talking to for some time, and we are delighted to have concluded a deal for 2018," said Hollamby.

"His career record speaks for itself, and the way he performed last year when he joined the grid in difficult circumstances was hugely impressive."

2018 BTCC line-up so far

WSR BMW: Colin Turkington, Rob Collard, Andrew Jordan
Team Dynamics Honda Civic: Matt Neal, Dan Cammish
Team BMR Subaru Levorg: Ash Sutton, Jason Plato
Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Avensis: Tom Ingram
Eurotech Racing Honda Civic: Jack Goff, Brett Smith, Matt Simpson
Motorbase Performance Ford Focus: Tom Chilton, Sam Tordoff, James Cole
Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra: Josh Cook, Senna Proctor
Ciceley Racing Mercedes A-Class: Adam Morgan, Tom Oliphant
HMS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta: Rob Austin
BTC Norlin Honda Civic: Chris Smiley, James Nash
Laser Tools Racing Mercedes A-Class: Aiden Moffat
Team Hard Volkswagen CC: Jake Hill, Mike Bushell, Michael Caine, Bobby Thompson
AmD Tuning Audi S3: Ollie Jackson, Sam Smelt
AmD Tuning MG: Rory Butcher, Tom Boardman
Team Parker Racing BMW: Stephen Jelley