Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport heads to Thruxton, Hampshire, this weekend for Round 5 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship. With the summer break coming to an end, the team returns to action looking to continue its fight at the sharp end of both the overall and Independent championships.
Following the six-week summer break, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport is well placed in both championship standings, sitting fifth in the Overall Teams’ Championship and third in the Independent Teams' Championship, just 16 points adrift of the lead after a strong start to the 2026 campaign.
The team has already claimed two outright race victories this season, one of only two teams to have secured multiple race victories so far. The first came courtesy of Árón Taylor-Smith, who delivered a masterclass in challenging conditions at Brands Hatch to secure his first overall BTCC victory in more than a decade. Gordon Shedden then added to the team's tally with a scintillating Race Three victory at a sweltering Snetterton, further underlining the credentials of the three-time champion.
Despite the frustrations of the most recent round at Oulton Park, the MB Motorsport Corolla continued to demonstrate its pace. Taylor-Smith secured his first pole position since Rockingham in 2016, with a storming qualifying performance on Saturday before converting that speed into an Independent race victory in the weekend's opening contest. Shedden also enjoyed a strong Sunday, recording a trio of points-scoring finishes as the team continued to demonstrate encouraging progress.
In the Drivers' Championship, Scotsman Gordon Shedden currently sits ninth, having already amassed three times as many points as he had at the same stage of the 2025 season. Taylor-Smith occupies eleventh, with his points tally already more than double what he had achieved by this point last year.
In the Independent Drivers' Championship, the pair sit fifth and seventh respectively as they look to strengthen their championship positions at Thruxton this weekend.
As the fastest circuit in the UK, Thruxton presents a unique challenge with its high-speed corners and significant tyre degradation. Success demands a car setup that delivers stability through the circuit's fast, flowing sections while prioritising tyre management. Goodyear's hard-compound tyre is essential to withstand the relentless pace, but even then, managing wear remains critical. For the drivers, confidence and total commitment are key to extracting maximum performance from every lap.
Thruxton has long been a happy hunting ground for Gordon Shedden, with "Flash" claiming an impressive seven victories and eleven podium finishes during his illustrious BTCC career. Árón Taylor-Smith is also no stranger to success at the Hampshire circuit, having secured a hat-trick of Independent podium finishes there in 2024. This weekend, the pair will aim to add to their impressive records at Thruxton as the second half of the 2026 season gets underway.
Following the 50-minute practice session (Sat, 10:25), the all-important Qualifying Groups (Sat, 14:00) and Qualifying Race (Sat, 15:05) will set the grid for Sunday’s racing action.
Sunday’s races are scheduled for 11:45, 14:40 and 17:30, with all three races available to watch live on ITV4 and ITVX.
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
"We head to Thruxton, which is one of my favourites, after the summer break with plenty of positives to build on from the first half of the season. Collecting my first BTCC win in more than a decade and securing another pole position have undoubtedly been the highlights, but we've also shown on numerous occasions that we have the pace to challenge at the front of the field. Everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport has been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to ensure we're in the best possible position as we resume our 2026 campaign, and our aim is to carry the momentum we've built so far into the second half of the season."
"Thruxton is a circuit that demands not only the right car setup, but also complete commitment behind the wheel. It's a track I've enjoyed strong results at in the past, so I'm looking forward to getting back out there and carrying our momentum into the weekend. Hopefully we can put together three strong races, score some big points, and continue to demonstrate what this team is capable of."
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
”It’s great to be back in action after some time away from the track. We’ve shown on several occasions what we’re capable of, with the victory at Snetterton being a particular highlight for me. Alongside that, we’ve collected Independent wins and podium finishes, and despite a few ups and downs, we’ve continued to make strong progress in both championships with the Corolla."
"Thruxton is a unique circuit where outright speed has to be balanced with tyre management, so getting the setup right will be absolutely crucial. It’s a track I’ve always enjoyed and one that holds plenty of great memories, so if we execute the weekend well, there’s every reason to believe we can come away with a strong haul of points."
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said:
"The 2026 season has delivered plenty of highs and lows for everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, but we head into the second half of the campaign in a strong position, firmly in contention in both championships. Árón and Gordon have both produced some outstanding performances, claiming a race victory apiece alongside a strong collection of Independent wins and podium finishes. As we head to Thruxton, our focus is on building on the momentum from the opening four rounds and returning to the fight for silverware following a challenging weekend at Oulton Park."
"Everyone at Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport has worked incredibly hard throughout the summer break to ensure we're ready to hit the ground running. Now it's about maintaining that focus, continuing to work as one team, and taking another step forward at Thruxton this weekend."
