Tough Start for Taylor-Smith in BTCC Season Opener at Donington Park
Hako-sponsored driver Aron Taylor-Smith endured a challenging start to his 2025 British Touring Car Championship campaign at Donington Park, despite showing strong pace with his new TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK team.
After a promising pre-season, Taylor-Smith hit the track with high hopes in his Toyota Corolla GR Sport. He impressed during free practice and progressed smoothly through the first phase of qualifying, only missing out on a place in the final ‘Quick Six’ shootout by a narrow 0.030 seconds.
Following an overnight engine change to address a minor issue, Taylor-Smith lined up on the fifth row for Race 1. However, an early technical issue forced him into an unexpected retirement. Race 2 looked more promising as he charged through the field, using his trademark racecraft, but another mechanical problem again ended his charge prematurely.
In the final race of the day, Taylor-Smith showed his resilience. Starting 23rd, he expertly worked his way through the pack to finish 12th, salvaging valuable points and ending the weekend on a high.
Speaking after the event, Taylor-Smith said: “It’s a cliché that everyone has a tough weekend at some point in BTCC, so hopefully that’s ours done. It’s frustrating because the car had the pace for strong results, but luck just wasn’t on our side. I’m proud of the team, and we’ll bounce back stronger at Brands Hatch.”
He also thanked his sponsors and partner network, adding: “It meant a lot to have so much support at Donington. I’m focused on delivering a real show for everyone this season.”
Taylor-Smith and the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK team now turn their attention to the next three rounds at Brands Hatch on 10-11 May, aiming to convert their clear speed into podium results.
This is the third year that Hako Machines has supported Taylor-Smith in his BTCC campaigns and are looking forward to seeing how Aron builds on last year’s success when he won the Independents Championship. Hako has previously shared why the partnership is so successful on their news pages.