Hako sponsored driver Aron Taylor-Smith delivered an exceptional performance at Knockhill in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) last weekend [10-11 August], securing a front-row start and two Independent wins, solidifying his lead in the Independent Trophy standings.
After a two-week break, the BTCC headed north to the 1.2-mile Knockhill circuit, known for its rollercoaster-like layout with steep gradients, challenging corners, and heavy braking zones. Under sunny skies, Taylor-Smith and his Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing team showcased their prowess, with the Irishman emerging as one of the standout performers in the highly competitive field.
Taylor-Smith demonstrated top-five pace throughout the practice sessions, and comfortably progressed through both knockout stages of qualifying. In the Quick Six Shootout, he narrowly missed pole position by just 0.035 seconds, securing his first front-row start in the BTCC since 2015. This achievement underscored the significant progress made by Taylor-Smith and his team, positioning them competitively against the Manufacturer entries.
In front of a packed crowd and a nationwide audience on ITV4, Taylor-Smith translated his strong qualifying into race success. In the opening race, he made a lightning start, settling into second place behind pole-sitter Colin Turkington. However, the rear-wheel-drive BMW of Adam Morgan applied intense pressure as the race progressed. Despite a valiant defense, a late-race bump forced Taylor-Smith off-line, allowing Morgan and Josh Cook’s Toyota to pass, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
Strategically, the team opted to run the less-favored medium compound tires in the second race, leading to a drop in positions. Despite this, Taylor-Smith managed to salvage a credible 11th place finish. A favorable reverse grid draw for the final race saw him return to the front row. However, a power steering failure three laps in made steering around the challenging circuit nearly impossible. Despite the setback, Taylor-Smith heroically battled through to finish 12th, securing another Independent win.
Taylor-Smith now leads the Independent Trophy standings by 48 points over teammate Mikey Doble and remains in the top ten of the overall championship. His team, Evans Halshaw Power Maxed Racing, also holds a commanding 68-point lead in the Independent Teams’ Championship. The BTCC action continues at Donington Park on 24-25 August, where Taylor-Smith hopes to build on his momentum.
Reflecting on the weekend, Taylor-Smith said, “The highlight of the weekend is undoubtedly qualifying on the front row, just three hundredths of a second from pole position. Despite the challenges, I’m proud to be up there fighting with the Manufacturer teams. We’ve made significant progress, and I’m confident heading into Donington GP.”
