Aron Taylor-Smith shines with double Independent wins at Croft BTCC

Aron Taylor-Smith delivered an impressive performance at the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Croft, securing two Independent category victories and a solid haul of points.

The Dubliner, driving for Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, continued his strong form following a podium finish at Oulton Park, demonstrating his skill and consistency across a challenging weekend.

Taylor-Smith’s weekend began on a high note during Saturday’s qualifying session. For the first time in the 2024 season, he advanced to the prestigious ‘Quick Six Shootout,’ where he claimed an impressive fourth on the grid. This placed his Vauxhall Astra among the top contenders, setting the stage for a thrilling race day.

As Sunday dawned, a packed crowd at the Yorkshire circuit and a live television audience on ITV4 watched as Taylor-Smith lined up for the first race. A blistering start saw him battling for third place with Tom Ingram’s Hyundai on the approach to the first corner. Although he had to yield and settle into fifth after a minor clash with Ash Sutton’s Ford, Taylor-Smith still managed to secure fifth place overall, marking his 11th Independent win of the season.

The second race presented a new challenge, as Taylor-Smith was on the slower Hard compound Goodyear tires. Despite losing a few positions in the chaotic early stages, his experience shone through. He skillfully defended against race one winner Colin Turkington and a host of competitors on faster tires, ultimately finishing seventh and claiming another Independent victory.

The reverse grid draw for the third race placed Taylor-Smith on the front row, starting second. A steady start kept him behind Tom Chilton’s Hyundai, but a bold move by Ingram at the Jim Clark Esses saw both Vauxhalls pushed wide, dropping Taylor-Smith to tenth. Despite sustaining damage late in the race, he managed to bring the car home in 13th, adding more valuable points to his tally.

Taylor-Smith now sits eighth in the overall championship standings and has extended his lead over teammate Mikey Doble in the Independents Trophy to 21 points. His efforts have also contributed significantly to Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing’s commanding 60-point lead in the Independent Teams’ Championship.

Reflecting on the weekend, Taylor-Smith expressed pride in his and the team’s achievements. “To qualify on the second row and secure good points with two Independent wins is fantastic,” he said. “The team has done an incredible job, and I’m excited to see what we can achieve at Knockhill next month.”

The next round of the BTCC takes place at Knockhill, Fife, on August 10-11, where Taylor-Smith will look to build on his momentum.