THOUSANDS of motorsport fans are set to descend on West Fife this weekend as a high-class event returns to Knockhill Racing Circuit.

On Saturday and Sunday, the iconic venue will reverberate to the roar of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as rounds 19, 20 and 21 are battled out.

With only three race weekends left after the visit to Scotland's national motorsport centre, the bid for honours is hotting up, and around 15,000 fans are expected to pack out Knockhill for a weekend of exciting wheel-to-wheel action, featuring two Fife racers.

Rory Butcher, whose father, Derek, ormerly owned and was CEO at Knockhill, and rising Kelty star, Ronan Pearson, will both be eager to impress at their home circuit, as will fellow Scots, Aiden Moffat, from Edinburgh, and Glasgow's Dexter Paterson.

Butcher, from Kirkcaldy, is the highest placed of the quartet in the championship, sitting ninth in the standings, 148 points adrift of leader, Ash Sutton.

The 36-year-old Toyota Gazoo Racing UK star has previously enjoyed BTCC success at Knockhill, picking up a win in 2019 - during which he also nabbed a third place - and in 2020, whilst also making the rostrum, in third, in one of last year's races.

Pearson, 21, is competing in his maiden BTCC campaign, and looked set to enjoy a dream first race weekend with a podium in race two, at Donington Park, only for his car to fail a post-race ride-height test, disqualifying him from the race.

A double race winner at Knockhill last year, whilst competing in the Quaife Mini Challenge, the EXCELR8 Motorsport driver is 22nd in the standings, and was showing potential last time out at Croft.

He qualified for race one in an impressive 13th place, only for contact with Dan Lloyd to force him out, going on to place 25th and 19th in races two and three.

Stuart Gray, Knockhill's director of events, commented: "All four Scots are going to be in the mix for sure.

"Each one has the outright pace, experience and knowledge of the circuit to feature, if not to take the top set on the podium on any of the three feature races. It will be great to see hundreds of Saltires flying, as you can almost tell where each of the Scottish drivers are around the circuit by following their fans' flag-waving!"

Adding to the main event of the BTCC, which will challenge competitors over Knockhill's 1.3 mile circuit with unique twists and turns, will be the presentation of two trophies in honour of a pair of Scottish racing legends.

John Cleland and David Leslie, who both starred in the series over three decades, will be recognised by Knockhill, with trophies for pole and position, and fastest lap, awarded at this BTCC race weekend, and those going forward, at the West Fife venue.

"We are also proud to be honouring two legends of Scottish racing this year with the inaugural award of the John Cleland 'Pole Position' trophy, and the David Leslie 'Fastest Lap' trophy," Stuart continued.

"Each will be awarded from now on at every BTCC event in the future, permanently marking the successes of these two Scottish drivers, not only in the BTCC, but in many other motorsport disciplines too."

The Lokring UK Raceday, supported by Cataclean and Macklin Motors, is set to be a festival of car racing, beginning on Saturday.

As well as the BTCC qualifying session, the day will feature ROKIT F4 single-seaters; Vertu Motors Mini Challenge; Porsche Carerra Cup GB; and action from the final round of the Elite Legends Championship.

Sunday is the main race day, featuring three BTCC rounds and a further nine races, and a post-event track walk, with the weekend featuring trade stands, autograph sessions and much more.

Gates for Saturday's action open at 8am, with the first race of the day scheduled to begin at 1.40pm, with Sunday's timings set for 7.30am and 9.05am respectively.

For event information and tickets, visit www.knockhill.com/events, whilst tickets can also be purchased at the gates on each event day.