Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport celebrated victory in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship last weekend [9-10 May] courtesy of Árón Taylor-Smith, who produced a masterclass in treacherous conditions to rise from the midfield to the winner’s circle at Brands Hatch.
Mark Blundell’s outfit arrived at the 1.2-mile Indy circuit keen to build on a podium and an Independent victory courtesy of Gordon Shedden at the Donington Park season opener a fortnight ago, and banked yet more solid points during Saturday’s Qualifying Race, and the first ITV4-televised race of the day on Sunday.
Rain had threatened the skies above Brands Hatch all day, and began to fall moments before the start of Race 2. With the majority of the field opting to keep the slick compound Goodyear tyres on - including Taylor-Smith and Shedden - the stage was set for a modern-day BTCC classic, and started in duly chaotic fashion, as drivers struggled to extract what little grip was on offer.
As conditions continued to worsen, Taylor-Smith’s pace started to light up the timing screens. Having quietly worked his way through the chaos to run inside the top five at half-distance, he then passed Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton - six BTCC titles between them - with moves into Druids and on Cooper Straight on the same lap, before relieving Ricky Collard of the race lead with a bold dive to the inside at Paddock Hill Bend two tours later.
Once released out front, Taylor-Smith continued unabated and extended the gap out front to an eventual 3.4 seconds, before a late-race red flag for two stricken cars at Druids cut short the contest and, with no time to resume, the Dubliner was duly declared the winner to spark jubilant scenes in the garage.
The result was momentous on three fronts, as it not only marked Taylor-Smith’s first triumph with MB Motorsport and the first for the team’s new-look, two-car effort, but was equally the popular Irishman’s first win in the BTCC since Rockingham in 2016, some 3,542 days ago. It also secured the team a second Independent win in as many race meetings to cap off an encouraging start to the year.
It proved to be a tougher weekend for three-time champion Shedden. A lightning start in the first race promoted "Flash" into the top six, before contact from a rival dropped him out of contention, and again hampered his efforts again in Race 2. He rallied and used all his experience, nous and racecraft to soar through the field in the final race of the weekend, rising from the back of the field to finish a credible seventh.
Taylor-Smith followed him home in ninth, underlining the Corolla’s race pace and ending the day with a double top-ten finish for the team.
Leaving Brands Hatch, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport sit fourth in the overall Teams Championship, with Taylor-Smith and Shedden seventh and tenth respectively in the Drivers’ standings; among the Independents, the team are second, with Taylor-Smith and Shedden fourth and fifth.
Snetterton’s 300 circuit hosts the next three rounds of the 2026 BTCC season on 23-24 May.
Árón Taylor-Smith (#50) said:
“Today feels so surreal, it’s like a dream. We’ve been working so hard as a team to unlock a bit more performance from this Corolla, and to have the best reward today with a victory is honestly the greatest feeling for everyone involved.
“We made a small tweak to the car between Races 1 & 2 and it really brought the Corolla to life. I knew within a couple of laps we were in with a chance, and from there we executed the perfect race, especially in such difficult conditions. That’s a real testament to the car, and the team, and I think I did a pretty decent job as well!
“It’s been a while since I’ve been on the top step of the podium, but I’m still the same driver - all I need is the car underneath me, and I feel like with Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, we have everything we need to keep building and go on to be successful.
“A huge thanks to Mark, Craig and the whole team for their faith in me. Today’s a fantastic day, but it’s just the first step on the journey, and I can’t wait to get back out at Snetterton and build on it.”
Gordon Shedden (#52) said:
“Race 3 was a great way to end what has been a tough day on the whole, but we’ve shown there’s real pace in the car, and each race is only helping us move in the right direction with the Corolla.
“The car really came alive in that last one, and it was a good feeling to come through the field and score some decent points to reward the team for all their hard work. Fingers crossed we get a bit more luck come our way at Snetterton.”
Mark Blundell, Sporting Director, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport said:
“It’s fantastic to come away with Brands Hatch with our first win of the season, and having confirmed we’ve taken another small step forward with the Corolla.
“I’m really pleased for Árón, it was an incredible drive and he’s hugely deserving of this. His talent behind the wheel notwithstanding, he also works very hard with the team, and with his partners day-to-day - qualities that made us really buy into him - and it’s always a nice feeling to see that rewarded, and I’m sure this is just the first step on his journey with us.
“Gordon had a tougher day on his side of the garage, with contact in the first race dropping him back, and giving him a tall order for the rest of the day. But, to his credit, he kept chipping away, and that drive through the field to score good points in Race 3 showed exactly why he’s a three-time champion.
“It’s important to celebrate results like this; we’re all in this business to win at the end of the day. But equally, it’s important we now stay focused, keep working hard and look to take another step forward at Snetterton.”
