Árón Taylor-Smith claimed his first British Touring Car Championship victory in 10 years in dramatic fashion at Brands Hatch, prevailing in a rain-soaked Race 2.
The Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport driver came from nowhere to prevail after a brave drive on slicks at a soaked Indy circuit.
Victory marks the Irishman’s first in 10 years, which was at the now-defunct Rockingham circuit in 2016’s Round 24.
Taylor-Smith was visibly emotional to hear the Irish national anthem ring around the Brands Hatch speakers, almost in disbelief with the result.
“It feels very surreal,” he told media after the race.
“Like, that’s the truth of it.
“Like, it’s, you dream and you work so hard and let’s be honest, the first weekend was a bit bruising for me, so to win a race at the second weekend is something that I’m so proud of.
“And it’s not possible without Mark and everyone at Laser Tools Racing believing in me to give me this opportunity.
“So I’m just, yeah, over the moon to get one in the bag for us this early in the year.”
Probed on his emotions on the podium, Taylor-Smith described how it felt to hear the rarely-heard Irish anthem after a BTCC event.
“A little bit teary-eyed.
“It’s a bit odd, like, you work so hard at this that sometimes you get so many kicks and you get so many knockdowns, and actually to come back and have a win is just such an elation, like, amazing feeling.
“I’m over the moon.”
Árón Taylor-Smith hopes Brands Hatch victory can ‘rewrite the script’
Round 5 success for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport marks the first Corolla victory in BTCC since 2024. While it is the Irishman’s first win in a decade, Taylor-Smith is also hopeful that the result is a sign of things to come.
“It’s so difficult.
“Like, this championship, the best drivers are in it, the best teams, the best tracks, very hard to win it all.”
Asked whether he feels this result can be a starting point for him, he added: “I think I said this … last night.
“I was like, I feel we have a chance, and today is the turning point.
“We can rewrite the script and get after it.
“So to win a race after I said that only last night, amazing.”
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