Taylor-Smith joins Toyota line-up for 2025 BTCC campaign

Reigning British Touring Automobile Independents champion Aron Taylor-Smith has lined himself up a Toyota Gazoo Racing UK seat for 2025.

The 35-year-old Dubliner, a four-time race winner within the championship, will marketing campaign a Speedworks Motorsport-run Corolla GR Sport after two seasons with the under-threat Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall squad.

Taylor-Smith is the second driver named for the four-strong Speedworks line-up, following the staff’s snapping up of promising Scot Ronan Pearson.

Not like Pearson, Taylor-Smith is but to check the Toyota and that is his first time underneath the Speedworks umbrella.

Whereas the Cheshire staff has been quiet for a lot of the winter, with no less than three of its 4 BTCC drivers from final season shifting on for 2025, it’s understood to be more likely to fill its seats after an encouraging winter of growth on the Corolla.

Rob Huff, the 2012 World Touring Automobile champion, is the one one among Speedworks’ drivers from final season nonetheless within the body, whereas extremely rated Bobby Thompson can be available on the market as his hopes of touchdown a seat on the West Surrey Racing BMW squad fade.

Of Taylor-Smith, Speedworks chief Christian Dick stated: “It grew to become evident from our very first conversations that he’s a incredible match for Speedworks Motorsport, and vice versa. His enthusiasm is infectious – and that’s tremendously inspiring for the entire staff.

“Aron has obtained loads of reward for his performances and outcomes over the previous couple of campaigns – and justifiably so – and we completely consider that, in the correct automotive, he could be a common frontrunner and contender for race wins. He’s going from power to power and is well-placed to capitalise on his present momentum.

“We’ve been arduous at work since final season to additional hone and refine the Corolla GR Sport, and we really feel we’ve taken additional steps ahead throughout the board.”

Taylor-Smith added: “Once I met with Christian and Danny [Buxton, Speedworks head of motorsport, who coached Taylor-Smith during his Clio Cup days], it was clear proper from the beginning that they’ve carried out a very thrilling growth programme over the winter.

“Having spent the previous two years making an attempt to beat the manufacturer-backed vehicles, it’ll be a surreal feeling to be in amongst them, however that simply spurs me on much more to placed on a present.”