Southam-based Laser Tools Racing withdraw from British Touring Car Championship
CHAIRMAN Martin Smith says Laser Tools Racing are looking forward to a new challenge after the team announced it had withdrawn from the British Touring Car Championship.
The Southam-based outfit has enjoyed great success in the UK’s most competitive series after its inception in 2014 as an independent team with Aiden Moffat.
Laser Tools then ran with two cars in 2020 as Ashley Sutton joined. That year Sutton clinched the drivers’ championship behind the wheel of the Infiniti Q50, with Laser Tools also claiming the independent teams' trophy.
A year later Sutton successfully defended his title and in a dominant season, Laser Tools went on to win the overall teams’ championship.
The 2022 campaign proved to be a difficult one, with Moffat finishing in a disappointing 18th in the drivers’ standings with 69 points and team-mate Dexter Patterson much further down in 23rd with just five points.
Overall, the team finished tenth in the teams’ standings with a meagre 74 points.
It was announced today (Monday) that the team had withdrawn from the BTCC and would not be contesting the 2023 season.
Smith said: “We’ve had a great nine years in the BTCC and I am particularly proud of the 2021 season as winners of the teams’ championship and drivers’ championship in the same year.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved with the team during our years of competing in the BTCC — it really has been a “team” in the true sense of the word, and everyone involved over the years, in whatever capacity, has my heartfelt thanks.
“I would also like to thank other partners who have joined us in this success story.
“And of course we must thank Aiden Moffat and the rest of the Moffat family who have offered so much involvement and sheer hard work into this project. We wish them well for the future.
“Now, it’s time for a new challenge, and we have some exciting plans in place for 2023. However, we are open to new ideas and new offers to take the team forward.”
