Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport continues to go from strength to strength as the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship returns to action this weekend [6-7 June] at Oulton Park, Cheshire.
Mark Blundell’s team make the trip to the picturesque lakeside circuit in buoyant form having won at each of the last two race meetings, most recently at Snetterton after three-time champion Gordon Shedden delivered a masterclass in defending to hold Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram - champions in five of the last six seasons - at bay to secure his first win in Laser Tools’ iconic blue colours.
Those results not only propelled Shedden to the summit in the Independent Drivers’ standings, but have moved Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport to within striking distance of top spot in the Independent Teams’ standings, the gap to first now a mere four points.
That, plus another points-scoring showing from Árón Taylor-Smith, whose heroics in the wet netted the team’s other win this season at Brands Hatch, means both drivers and the team are in the mix in the race for overall honours.
With two victories, plus a further podium from nine starts so far in 2026, the team arrives as one of the ‘in-form’ squads, with the objective of adding yet more silverware before the BTCC takes a seven-week summer hiatus after the trip to Oulton Park.
In prospect this weekend is Oulton Park, undoubtedly a favourite on the BTCC calendar for drivers and fans alike, with crowds exceeding 40,000 spectators regularly making a summer sojurn to the Cheshire venue, set in the natural contours of the landscape surrounding the former Oulton Estate.
A lap of the high-speed, 2.2-mile Cheshire circuit provides plenty of elevation change as a result, with notable overtaking opportunities on the brakes into the Island Hairpin, Knickerbrook Chicane and Lodge corner at the end of the lap. It rewards bravery, and mistakes are often punished, with very little run-off or margin for error.
For Shedden and Taylor-Smith, Oulton Park holds special memories; it was the scene of Shedden’s first outright BTCC win back in 2006, plus six further triumphs for “Flash” over the years, with Taylor-Smith similarly victorious back in 2014, and again on the rostrum in 2023. Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport have an equally solid record at Oulton, with three previous triumphs.
Qualifying takes on extra significance due to the narrow circuit, with the all-important Groups and Qualifying Race scheduled to start at 14:00 and 15:05 respectively on Saturday, live on the ITV Sport YouTube channel.
Sunday features the usual triple-header of action-packed races, with lights out at 12:25, 14:55 and 17:20, live on ITV4 and ITVX.
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
“On paper, Oulton Park’s a circuit that should suit the Corolla. It’s a real contrast to what we had last time out at Snetterton, with plenty of elevation changes, lots of tight, technical sections and more emphasis on cornering speeds. It’s a real ‘driver’s circuit’, this one.
“After a tough weekend at Snetterton, we’ve had a quick reset, taken some learnings forward and the aim this weekend is definitely to be back closer to the heights we had at Brands Hatch, and to come away with a good haul of points.
“We know the car is quick here, Gordon won one of the three races last season, and for myself personally, it’s a track where I’ve won and had podiums in the past, so if everything comes together, we’ve all the ingredients to go out there and put on a real show.”
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“Qualifying always takes on a little bit more significance here, because the circuit is quite narrow and lends itself to defending. So the first objective is to have a slightly stronger Saturday, and then that should put us in the mix for another decent haul of points on the Sunday.
“Oulton Park’s a circuit with plenty of fond memories for me; it’s where I won my first overall BTCC race back in 2006. I’ve added a few more since then, including one last year in the Corolla, so we know the car is capable too. If we execute the weekend well, and put it all together, then we should be in a good place.”
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said:
“It’s been a positive start to the season, with two wins and a podium from nine races, but we’re under no illusions that we still have a bit of work to do to extract a bit more performance from the Corolla.
“Everybody’s feeling upbeat after a strong end to what was otherwise a pretty tough weekend at Snetterton, but as a team, with the changes we’ve had over the off-season, it’s always going to take a few race meetings for everything to come together and gel properly.
“Oulton Park should play to the car’s strengths a little bit more, which is a positive, and it’s a personal favourite of both Gordon and Árón, which is never a bad thing, particularly on a circuit where confidence is key; you need to be a little bit on the ragged edge here to be quick. The goal has to be fighting for more silverware, for Independent victories, and ultimately to come away with a strong haul of points.”
