BTCC: Árón Taylor-Smith to make switch to Toyota for 2025

Árón Taylor-Smith has been confirmed to be leaving the Power Maxed Racing team to join the manufacturer Toyota Gazoo Racing team.

After the announcement earlier this week with Ronan Pearson joining the Speedworks Motorsport run Toyota, Árón becomes the second driver to join the lineup in what is looking likely to be a significant overhaul of the team for 2025.

Taylor-Smith won the Independents Drivers Championship last season in an excellent display across the year where he claimed 20 independent victories from 30 starts. Finishing 7th in the overall standings, where he had his highest points scoring season to date, his excellent speed and consistency made him the only driver to score points in every race this season.

The Irish driver will make his 300th start in the championship at the opening round in Donighton Park but now will have the manufacturer backing to look to go for more wins next season, he is already hungry for more.

With the announcement, Taylor-Smith said: “It’s an incredible feeling, to be stood here as a Toyota Gazoo Racing UK driver. To work with the world’s largest car manufacturer on the biggest stage in British motorsport was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, and this is without doubt one of the proudest days of my career."

“When I met with Christian and Danny, it was clear right from the start that they’ve conducted a really exciting development programme over the winter with the Corolla GR Sport, which was already a proven race-winner and one of the most competitive packages on the BTCC grid!

“I’m hugely grateful to them for the faith they’ve put in me. This is an exceptionally motivated team, with some of the best staff in the business and a real ‘family feel’. Speedworks’ track record over the years speaks for itself, and I’ve been massively impressed with everything I’ve seen and heard so far – all the ingredients are in-place to make this a real success.

“Having spent the past two years trying to beat the manufacturer-backed cars, it’ll be a surreal feeling to be amongst them, but that just spurs me on even more to put on a show. I’ve only ever wanted a chance to fight for the overall BTCC title, and I firmly believe that joining forces with TOYOTA GAZOO Racing UK gives me the perfect platform and environment to create that opportunity.

“I have absolute confidence in the car, the team and myself, and I can’t wait for my first laps in the Corolla. There’s no reason at all why we can’t be pushing for podiums and victories this season!”