In conversation with…PartsInMotion.co.uk-Jack Butel

Online parts supplier PartsInMotion.co.uk sat down with its BTCC-sponsored racing driver, Jack Butel, to discuss all things racing and the season so far.

The 27-year-old British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) ace resides in Jersey and races for Team HARD, driving a Cupra Leon. After the mid-season break, Butel is enjoying being back on the track.

“We have been a bit unlucky with some situations this season, for example tyre pressure issues and having to switch out the engine. But we’ve been consistently better than last year, and I think we showed that at Oulton Park, placing seventh in FP2,” Butel said.

Talking about how he got into racing, Butel explains: “I started racing at 14 doing karting in Jersey, we used to close off one road for ten days to hold the races. That’s where I got my first taste for competition. I then decided to do a hill climb in Jersey and film it - I actually broke the hill climb record - so I posted the video of it on YouTube.

“A few days later I got contacted by a UK single-seater racing team who’d seen my hill climb video on the internet and asked me to test for them. I didn’t expect much to come from it but here I am thirteen years later and racing in the BTCC!”

With over a decade of racing experience, Butel counts seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton as one of his friends and mentors. “I get asked all the time who my racing heroes are, I’ve always looked up to Lewis Hamilton – he’s one of greatest drivers to ever race, as well as Kimi Räikkönen and Valentino Rossi. I’ve met them all and it is amazing to be able to chat to them (my idols) about the same thing: racing.

“Obviously Nic Hamilton [Lewis’ brother] is my teammate and I find myself playing Call of Duty with him and Lewis on a regular basis! It doesn’t feel like he’s a seven-time world champion when we’re playing online! I’ve also raced against Rossi in Abu Dhabi; I find it mad that I am sharing a racetrack and regularly chatting to my heroes!”

Discussing his favourite cars and circuits, Butel comments: “Two stand-out cars for me are the Ligier LMP3 (Le Mans Prototype) race car and the Bentley Continental GT3. I’ve driven the LMP3 and won races in Dubai and Donington in it, and I was part of the Bentley academy team racing for them before Covid.”

Jack adds: “I’m lucky to have raced in lots of places but Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps and Abu Dhabi are by far my top circuits. Spa is one of the best as it was the first track I took a podium place so it’s a special one for me. And Abu Dhabi is like nowhere else in the world, the facilities are incredible, and the track is insane!”

When not racing, Jack spends his time helping run his dad’s business along with preparing for the arrival of his first child. Butel says: “Everyone keeps asking me when the baby will get behind the wheel – and I’d say about six months old I’ll have him on my lap in the driver’s seat! Only joking, it doesn’t really bother me either way, if he wants to race then we’ll look at getting him starting out in a kart. If he doesn’t that’s fine too!”

Two race weekends remain in the 2023 BTCC season, with the next round at Silverstone from 23rd-24th September, and the season finale at Brands Hatch from 7th-8th October.

Jack adds: “We’ve managed to escape without too much damage so far, a couple of bumpers, wings and lights issues which you’d expect from a touring cars race. And hopefully the rest of season stays the same!”

Matt Gates, managing director at PartsInMotion.co.uk said: “It’s been great seeing our logo on the racetrack this season for the first time and supporting a driver like Jack has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to increase brand awareness.”

PartsInMotion.co.uk offers over 250,000 parts in stock, at competitive prices. This includes a wide range of electric vehicle (EV) components to meet the future needs of the automotive industry.

If you’re in need of any parts, simply enter the vehicle registration at PartsInMotion.co.uk or speak to one of PartsInMotion.co.uk’s product experts to find out more.

You can watch the BTCC live on ITV 4 here.