Once again, Butcher made the most of his front-wheel-drive Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport warming up its front tyres quicker than the rear-driven BMWs can get heat into their Goodyears, and he was 1.211 seconds in front by the end of the opening lap.
This time, it was his brother-in-law Gordon Shedden who had stolen into second place, the Team Dynamics Honda Civic Type R making an inspired dive inside the BMWs of Hill and Morgan into Brooklands on the opening lap.
