Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport returned to action after the summer break at Thruxton for Round 5 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, adding more championship points to its season tally.
The team arrived at the Hampshire circuit following a positive opening to the season, with Gordon Shedden and Árón Taylor-Smith both scoring a race win, bringing the team’s 2026 total to two wins, three podiums and four Independent victories.
After a trouble-free practice session, Gordon and Árón qualified 11th and 14th respectively. In the qualifying race, Gordon crossed the line in sixth but received a post-race time penalty for a Safety Car infringement, dropping him to eighth. Árón finished 11th, with both drivers moving forward from their starting positions.
Race One proved challenging for Gordon as he ran wide onto the grass and was forced to pit before recovering to finish 22nd. Árón meanwhile moved up the order and collected championship points with a 10th place finish.
Race Two saw solid progress for both drivers as Gordon charged from the back of the field to finish 10th, while Árón gained a position to finish ninth.
The final race ended in contrasting fortunes. Árón was eliminated early on after two cars collided ahead of him, leaving him with nowhere to go. Gordon continued his progress to finish seventh and secure further championship points.
Following Round 5, Gordon sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship, with Árón 12th. Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport remains fifth in the Teams’ Championship and third in the Independent Teams’ Championship.
The team now looks ahead to Round 6 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill on 8–9 August.
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
"Looking back at the weekend, I think there are plenty of positives to take from Thruxton. We made progress through the qualifying race and the opening two races, continuing to show strong race pace on Sunday, which is encouraging. We know this car is capable of running at the front, so if we can get qualifying nailed as we did at Oulton, it puts us in a great position to challenge. It was frustrating to end the final race through no fault of our own, but we’ll take the positives and move on to Knockhill."
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“An up-and-down weekend for me at Thruxton, but there are still plenty of positives to take away. The qualifying race was encouraging, and we finished higher than we started despite the penalty. Race One put us on the back foot, but from there we showed strong pace to fight back through the field. A huge thanks to the team for all their hard work throughout the weekend. Now we’re looking forward to Knockhill, my home race, and hopefully we can put on a strong showing in front of the Scottish fans."
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said:
"Thruxton was a mixed weekend, securing more valuable championship points despite some challenging moments. The team showed good race pace throughout, and both drivers demonstrated their ability to move forward through the field. The qualifying race was a good example of that, with both cars gaining positions, as well as Gordon’s drive through the field from the very back in Race Two. We know we have to start further up the grid, so we’ll continue working hard in that area and head to Knockhill looking to build on the progress we’ve made. A huge thanks to the entire team for their continued hard work and commitment, and to all of our partners for their ongoing support throughout the season."
