Former Touring Car racer Charlie Butler-Henderson stormed onto the podium in the UK’s first ever Trofeo Abarth 500 GB race over the Easter weekend.

Charlie scooped second place honours having qualified fifth fastest in his first taste of a dry track at Oulton Park, Cheshire.

“I’ve only tested this car here in the wet,” said the popular 31-year-old, “and I’ve only had one race in a Ginetta G50 during the last five years, so to come here and get a trophy first time out is fantastic.”

Charlie’s team-mate, and another ex-BTCC racer Gareth Howell, took the chequered flag just a couple of seconds ahead of CB-H after an action-packed 30-minutes.

Then, having set the second quickest time in race one, Charlie started race two alongside the pole sitter on the front row, and posted his fastest time of the weekend in the ensuing laps before crossing the finish line in fourth place.

“I have absolutely loved every second,” enthused the brother of TV’s Fifth Gear presenter Vicki. “To leave with points to my name and a third place in Championship is better than I expected. I’m so happy.”

 

His sister was due to race the Glyn Hopkin-backed car in the series but work commitments meant she couldn't compete in all the races, so stepped aside for her younger brother.

Charlie has been racing since the age of 8, when he raced Cadet karts against the likes of Jenson Button and Anthony Davidson. He progressed through the ranks of Formula Junior Vauxhall before switching to GT cars where he finished runner-up in the 1999 Marcos Mantic Challenge. He contested the competitive Renault Clio Cup in 2003, before his career highlight of competing in the British Touring Car Championship in 2005.

The next Trofeo Abarth 500 GB rounds are on 17-18^th April at Silverstone.