Charlie Butler-Henderson: determined to do battle

By Dave Brockman:

19 March 2004

Charlie joins the BTCC on the back of a season in the Clio Cup and despite his lack of experience in touring cars he was on the pace at Donington. After 46 laps of this demanding track he told us how it went:

How did the test go today?

Really well! We worked really really hard as you tell by the sweat on my face! I'm a bit disappointed actually, I would have liked to have been quicker but I'm realising just how hard it is out there.

Can you give us a quick rundown of your career so far?

I started in karts, did 9 years there then moved on to single seaters with Vauxhall Junior. Then a sponsorship deal fell through so I had three years working as an instructor before getting into the Marcos Mantis challenge where I came second. Then I moved onto GTs, Clios and Caterhams.

You'll have come to many people's attention with that nasty crash in the Caterhams at Thruxton - were there any long-term effects from that?

I can go to the pub and have a beer!
Charlie Butler-Henderson

It still hurts, yes. I get a bit of grief from it but I wear a HANS device now which keeps everything nice and secure in case I have another accident.

I'm working hard on it, I get a lot a massages and it's all coming good. My trainer's working me really hard in the gym and I'm feeling a lot better for it.

If I hadn't done any training I'd feel absolutely knackered by now - really mullered - but actually I feel all right. I can go to the pub and have a beer!

What are your aims for the season?

As many podiums as possible. I'm looking at the championship but there's Matt, Turkington... a lot of big boys in the independents' so it will be a tough year for me.

We start at Thruxton which is a track I know well so I'll just have to go out and do the best that I can, work hard and give it everything.



You can visit Charlie Butler-Henderson's website at www.cb-h.net.