Taylor-Smith Takes Emotional Brands Hatch Victory for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport

Árón Taylor-Smith delivered one of the most memorable moments of his BTCC career at Brands Hatch this weekend, taking a stunning race two victory, his first win in a decade, as part of a points scoring weekend across all three races for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport. In only his second race weekend with the iconic team Taylor-Smith delivered an incredible performance over the entire race weekend, marking him as one to firmly watch as the season progresses.

After a qualifying session that placed him twelfth on the grid, Taylor-Smith wasted no time in making his mark, charging through to ninth in the qualifying race and banking valuable early championship points heading into race day.

Race one presented a more difficult test. Wet conditions made for a tricky race and Taylor-Smith had to work hard throughout, a clean race bringing the car home in fourteenth. It gave the fan’s favourite a chance to further tune the Corolla which put him in a great shape for one of the championships greatest races in a long time.

Race two was something else entirely. In a dramatic, wheel-to-wheel contest that had everything the BTCC is renowned for, Taylor-Smith produced a drive of real quality and composure to take the top step of the podium for the first time in ten years. Battling throughout the race with multiple champions were amongst the highlights as the Irishman added a fifth BTCC victory to his illustrious career in the UK’s most widely followed championship. The emotion in the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport garage said everything.

Taylor-Smith said: “I can’t quite put into words what this means. I promised my daughter Oaklie I’d bring home a trophy and to actually deliver on that, it means everything. I am so incredibly proud of every single person in this team. The work that goes on behind the scenes, the hours, the dedication, days like today are for them.”

The reverse grid race rounded off the weekend in composed fashion. Starting eighth on the grid with significantly reduced TTB allowance as a result of the race two victory, Taylor-Smith was involved in a number of strong battles throughout before crossing the line in ninth, completing a clean sweep of points finishes across the three races.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport leave Brands Hatch with a race win, valuable championship points and a team who is ready for Snetterton.