Árón Taylor-Smith (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) battled the weather to take his first victory in 10 years (Rockingham, 2016) during Round 5 of the 2026 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship at Brands Hatch.
One of the more dramatic BTCC races in recent memory commenced in slight damp conditions before the rain began to fall heavier as the race progressed.
The vast majority of drivers decided to brave it out on Goodyear dry rubber and a quite phenomenal tussle for victory commenced.
The likes of Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and Ricky Collard (Team VERTU) each held the lead at one stage but it was the charging Taylor-Smith from 13th on the grid that had the crowd on its feet.
Move after move was made by the Irishman in the #50 Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport Toyota, with the Corolla looking like it was on rails around the 1.2-mile Indy Circuit, whilst others jittered around on the tricky track surface.
In truth, the move for victory was fairly routine as Taylor-Smith dived down the inside of Collard's #11 Hyundai on the entry to Paddock Hill Bend, before the experienced tin top peddler pulled away from the pack.
It proved a popular triumph with a huge roar greeting the multiple race winner as he crossed the line, with Sutton and Collard joining Taylor-Smith on the podium.
Team VERTU's Tom Ingram took fourth ahead of the LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing duo of Aiden Moffat and Mikey Doble.
Moffat's performance almost matched that of Taylor-Smith as the Scotsman stormed through the pack from 17th on the grid. He eventually ran side-by-side with teammate Doble before securing fifth in the closing stages.
Speedworks Corolla Racing's Josh Cook experienced a wild race as he fought for a podium, then dropped down the order after running through the gravel at Paddock Hill, before fighting back to finish seventh.
James Dorlin (Restart Racing), Dexter Patterson (Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing) and Daryl De Leon (WSR) completed the top ten positions.
There was more joy in 11th as Team VERTU's Nic Hamilton scored one of his best ever results with a fantastic drive in the wet, bringing back great memories of his top six finish at Donington Park in 2023.
Árón Taylor-Smith, Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport, said:
Ash Sutton, NAPA Racing UK, said:
Ricky Collard, Team VERTU, said:
Brands Hatch Indy – Race 2 – Result:
| P/ | No/ | Name/ | Entry/ | Laps/ | Time/ | Gap/ | Best/ | On/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 | Árón TAYLOR-SMITH | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 20 | 20:02.434 | 55.623 | 11 | |
| 2 | 116 | Ashley SUTTON | NAPA Racing UK | 20 | 20:05.843 | 3.409 | 55.391 | 7 |
| 3 | 11 | Ricky COLLARD | Team VERTU | 20 | 20:06.264 | 3.830 | 55.329 | 7 |
| 4 | 80 | Tom INGRAM | Team VERTU | 20 | 20:06.894 | 4.460 | 55.677 | 7 |
| 5 | 16 | Aiden MOFFAT | LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing | 20 | 20:07.738 | 5.304 | 55.920 | 18 |
| 6 | 88 | Mikey DOBLE | LKQ Euro Car Parts with Power Maxed Racing | 20 | 20:08.005 | 5.571 | 55.582 | 8 |
| 7 | 66 | Josh COOK | Speedworks Corolla Racing | 20 | 20:11.461 | 9.027 | 55.636 | 9 |
| 8 | 132 | James DORLIN | Restart Racing | 20 | 20:12.154 | 9.720 | 56.036 | 13 |
| 9 | 17 | Dexter PATTERSON | Steel Seal with Power Maxed Racing | 20 | 20:12.392 | 9.958 | 56.055 | 15 |
| 10 | 2 | Daryl DE LEON | WSR | 20 | 20:14.545 | 12.111 | 56.255 | 16 |
| 11 | 28 | Nicolas HAMILTON | Team VERTU | 20 | 20:35.134 | 32.700 | 54.489 | 6 |
| 12 | 22 | Chris SMILEY | Restart Racing | 20 | 20:41.213 | 38.779 | 56.311 | 9 |
| 13 | 32 | Daniel ROWBOTTOM | Cataclean Plato Racing | 19 | 20:20.126 | 1 Lap | 52.568 | 13 |
| 14 | 27 | Dan CAMMISH | NAPA Racing UK | 19 | 20:22.566 | 1 Lap | 55.835 | 7 |
| 15 | 33 | Adam MORGAN | Cataclean Plato Racing | 19 | 20:30.837 | 1 Lap | 53.852 | 15 |
| DNF | 99 | Charles RAINFORD | WSR | 20 | 20:07.200 | 4.766 | 55.534 | 8 |
| DNF | 77 | Sam OSBORNE | NAPA Racing UK | 20 | 20:14.789 | 12.355 | 55.639 | 8 |
| DNF | 19 | Max BUXTON | Speedworks Corolla Racing | 19 | 19:24.329 | 1 Lap | 56.156 | 7 |
| DNF | 3 | Tom CHILTON | Team VERTU | 18 | 18:19.442 | 2 Laps | 55.767 | 9 |
| DNF | 52 | Gordon SHEDDEN | Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport | 11 | 11:43.954 | 9 Laps | 56.044 | 9 |
| DNF | 15 | Lewis SELBY | NAPA Racing UK | 0 | 0.000 | 0 |
