Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport makes the trip to the historic Brands Hatch this weekend [9-10 May] aiming to carry over momentum from a positive start to the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
After a transformative winter, Mark Blundell’s outfit returned to the fray at Donington Park three weeks ago as a two-car operation for the first time, with two Corollas carrying the striking chrome blue livery of Laser Tools in their 50th Anniversary year. Behind the wheel is the second most-experienced driver pairing on the BTCC grid, in three-time champion Gordon Shedden, and Independents Trophy winner Árón Taylor-Smith.
That experience, tactical nous and racecraft came to the fore across the weekend’s action, with the pair bouncing back from a character-building qualifying session to race forwards across the Qualifying Race and the opening contest in front of a capacity trackside crowd - plus millions more on ITV4 - on Sunday, to open the new season with a solid haul of points.
Shedden then gambled on the quicker ‘Option’ tyre for Race 2, and used it to full effect, the Scot charging through to the final spot on the podium to mark his debut weekend with the team in fine style. It also meant an Independent victory for ‘Flash’ and that - coupled with a clean sweep of double points finishes in Race 3 - means the team arrives at the Kent venue well-placed in both the overall and Independent championship standings.
In contrast to the high-speed, flowing curves of Donington Park three weeks prior, the 1.2-mile Indy circuit at Brands Hatch will offer teams and drivers a more technical challenge. Set in what is often referred to as a “natural amphitheatre”, the layout is high-intensity, stop-start and features several dips and cambers around the lap - something that will play to the Corolla’s naturally strong chassis. It’s a place that rewards precision, and generates the frenetic, wheel-to-wheel racing so synonymous with the BTCC.
It’s also a circuit that holds special memories for MB Motorsport, as the scene of the team’s championship-winning success back in 2024, along with a further three wins and eight podium finishes since the team joined the UK’s premier motorsport series back in 2020. So to for Shedden, who claimed each of his three titles in 2012, 2015 and 2016 at the venue, and Taylor-Smith, who scored his maiden victory in the championship in 2012’s rain-soaked finale, and wrapped up his Independents Trophy win in the same spot, just over a decade later.
Back to the present, and Saturday’s all-important Qualifying Race can be viewed live on ITVX and YouTube from 14:00, with Sunday’s triple-header - due to start at 11:30, 14:45 and 17:30 respectively - on ITV4.
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
“The feeling going into this weekend is positive. We’re returning to a circuit in Brands Hatch that we’ve tested at in pre-season, and performed well at, so we’ve already a good baseline to work from.
“There were a few things to iron out after Donington, but the team at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport have been flat out finding solutions. The fundamentals are good, we just need to drill down on those incremental performance gains that make all the difference.
“We’re also switching back to the softer compound tyre as the standard tyre this weekend, which should also play to our strengths. Where we’ll be is anybody’s guess in a championship this competitive, but we’re arriving in good shape and up for the fight.”
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“Starting the season with some silverware was a great feeling, but the important thing for us as a team now is to keep pushing, and keep chasing those little one-percent improvements that all add up.
“Brands Hatch is a high-grip circuit, and we’re back on the soft tyre as the standard, so that’s definitely going to be a benefit for us, it should play into the natural strengths of the Corolla.
“It’s a circuit I’ve plenty of good memories at, and have always gone well at, so hopefully we can extract the most from the car and pick up another good set of results.”
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport said:
“The aim for Brands Hatch this weekend is to demonstrate we’ve made steps in the right direction, and build on the foundations we put down with a podium and decent points at Donington a few weeks ago.
“It’s always a bit easier going to a circuit you’ve tested at, because that reference point exists in the data, and it means we can really refine and focus our practice programme on the areas we’ve identified need the most work - which is even more valuable, now we only have a single session to do it in.
“Hopefully that has a positive knock-on effect for qualifying, and then that sets us up for race day. We have two incredibly experienced drivers, and some of the best engineers and mechanics in the championship. They’ll get the job done if we can put them in the mix. I’m looking forward to getting back to it.”
