Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport won for the second event in succession in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship last weekend [23-24 May], after three-time champion Gordon Shedden delivered a defensive masterclass to score his first victory for the team at a sun-soaked Snetterton.
Mark Blundell’s outfit arrived at the 2.97-mile Norfolk circuit buoyed after Árón Taylor-Smith’s heroic drive on slicks in the wet at Brands Hatch delivered the first triumph of the team’s latest chapter as a two-car effort, and with the aim of taking further strides forward with its Corolla challengers.
A frustrating qualifying left both Shedden and Taylor-Smith out of position towards the rear of the field but, using the race craft, nous and experience the pair have amassed in over 700 race starts in the UK’s premier motorsport series, the two striking Laser Tools blue cars moved forwards across the three ITV4-televised races on Sunday.
Both opted to dispense with their mandatory use of the slower, medium compound Goodyear tyres in the first race of the day, before Shedden charged forward to seventh and an Independent win on the soft tyres in Race 2, and benefitted from the reverse grid draw to move onto pole position for the final contest.
There, “Flash” took on all comers and put in a defensive masterclass, expertly managing his boost, soft tyres and temperatures exceeding 60 degrees celsius in the cockpit to keep Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram - who have five of the last six championships between them - at arm’s length to take the chequered flag first and spark jubilant scenes in the garage.
In the process, Shedden notched up a 54th career win, and stood on the top step of the podium for the first time in the iconic blue of Laser Tools. His second Independents win of the day also moved the Scot to the top of the Independents Trophy standings, with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport now just four points from the summit in the Independent Teams stakes.
That was also due in no small part to the tenacity of Taylor-Smith who, like Shedden, made progress on the soft tyres later in the day to charge forward from P19 to P14, then finally P12 to end the weekend with two points finishes.
Overall, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport leave Snetterton fifth in the Teams Championship, with Shedden and Taylor-Smith seventh and 12th respectively in the chase for the Drivers’ title.
The 2026 BTCC season resumes at the picturesque lakeside circuit of Oulton Park, Cheshire over the weekend of 6-7 June.
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“It’s a great feeling to get the first win with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, and to make it two wins in two weekends for the team.
“Considering we started the day in 13th, we’ve had to work really hard throughout the day to extract the maximum from the Corolla and move forwards, but everybody’s dug in and chipped away at it, then we were able to get the reverse grid draw.
“It was hard work out there, even before you add in the heat. It was important to manage the boost well, and it took every bit of my experience to keep the likes of Ash and Tom behind me. A real workout, but a worthwhile result at the end of it!
“It’s nice to give the team some reward for all their hard work, and a good feeling for me to stand on the top step of the podium in the iconic Laser Tools blue.”
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
“It’s been a bit of a challenging weekend on my side of the garage, we had a few small issues that put us on the back foot. It was always going to be a challenge, due to the nature of Snetterton but I feel we fought as hard as we could over the three races to salvage some points for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.
“I’m happy to come away with some points, considering those challenges, and now we move on to Oulton Park, where I feel the hatchback will be a bit stronger, and we can get back to our usual performance and be at the sharp end.”
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport said:
“It’s fantastic to end what has been a tough weekend at Snetterton with another victory, our second of the season. Gordon’s drive was magnificent, a real masterclass in defending, and it’s a just reward for him and the team, because we’ve had to show a lot of character and be resilient this weekend, with the challenges thrown at us.
“Equally, Árón’s had to dig in deep and has driven very well to come away with some points. It’s an exceptionally close championship, and I’m sure every point will matter come the end of the season.
“Snetterton isn’t the strongest circuit for the Corolla; we’re now the only hatchback car on the grid, and there is a bit of a deficit in performance for us to make up versus some of the other saloon-shape models. But I couldn’t be prouder of the team for how they’ve knuckled down today, and worked to extract the maximum from what we have, that’s a real hallmark of a strong group.
“Oulton Park should be a better platform for us to go on and keep building from this result - it’s two wins in two weekends now, so we have a bit of momentum to work with, and it’s still a long season ahead.”
