Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport embarks on a new chapter in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, with Donington Park set to host the 2026 curtain-raiser this weekend [18-19 April].
It’s been a transformative winter on and off the track for Mark Blundell’s outfit, which has expanded to a two-car team for the first time in 2026, signed three-time champion Gordon Shedden and Independents Trophy winner Aron Taylor-Smith and switched to the TOYOTA Corolla GR Sport, one of the most successful contemporary cars in the UK’s premier motorsport series, with a view to remaining a long-term, competitive force at the front of the field.
That strength in depth will be needed more than ever. As well as the BTCC’s notoriously close quarters, hard-fought racing, the championship has changed format for 2026, with the notable introduction of a new Qualifying Race on Saturday afternoon.
Teams will now have just a single 40-minute practice session to set their cars up before the competitive actions begins, a scenario where Shedden and Taylor-Smith’s combined 736 race starts - plus the team’s championship-winning engineering expertise on the pit wall - will come to the fore to navigate this new strategic element to the weekend.
The grid is then split into two groups for a pair of 15-minute group qualifying sessions, which set the grid for the Qualifying Race, the result of which in turn decides the starting order for the first of three races on Sunday, in front of what is expected to be a capacity trackside crowd at the East Midlands venue for the season-opening triple-header.
Donington Park’s 1.98-mile National circuit has been a regular fixture on the BTCC schedule since 1977 and in that time it’s fast, flowing layout has become synonymous with some of the best racing on the calendar.
It’s a circuit where Shedden in particular has previously excelled, with “Flash” scoring an enviable 11 race victories at Donington across his BTCC career to-date, as well as twice holding the lap record in previous years. It’s also a place with a silverware-laden history for the team and fan favourite Taylor-Smith; MB Motorsport have a win and eight podiums to their name, with the Dubliner twice a visitor to the rostrum in Leicestershire.
Both drivers will need every bit of experience, nous and racecraft to start the season, and this new chapter for one of the BTCC’s standout names, on the front foot, with a bumper 40-race schedule to complete between now and when the final chequered flag falls at Brands Hatch in October.
Saturday’s Qualifying Race is available to stream at 15:05 UK time on ITVX, with the trio of races on Sunday live on ITV4, starting at 11:30, 14:40 and 17:30 respectively.
Aron Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
“I’m sure I’ve said it before, but I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever begun a new season with as much excitement as I have right now - that’s the truth of it.
“It’s been a busy winter at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport and, as encouraging as testing has been, there’s nothing quite like a race weekend, and the chance to find out exactly where all that hard work and preparation puts us, versus the others. Donington Park is also one of my favourite circuits, so we’ve all the ingredients for a real push.
“I’m feeling upbeat; I think we’ve a good car to go out and fight with, and as always, I’ll be aiming to put on a show.”
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“Donington Park is a great place to start the season. It’s fast, unforgiving at times, and always produces entertaining racing, and that’s before you add into the mix the new format for this year, which is definitely going to shake things up a bit, and how we as drivers and a team approach the weekend.
“But it’s been a happy hunting ground for me in the past, with some really memorable moments, so hopefully we can begin the new season and this new chapter for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport on an equally positive note.”
Mark Blundell, Team Principal, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport said:
“As a team, we’re really looking forward to kicking off the new season at Donington Park this weekend, and the start of a new chapter in the history of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.
“There’s a real feeling of positivity within the garage, and rightly so. We’ve had a good winter and completed our testing programmes without issue, have two new, very experienced and motivated drivers in Gordon and Aron, and have been able to develop and refine the Toyota Corolla, which is already one of the most successful contemporary cars on the grid.
“Inevitably, the BTCC will continue to be a rollercoaster ride, and throw up drama and unpredictability, but we’ve prepared well and controlled everything we can - now it’s time to see what we’re all working with.”
