Laser Tools Racing entered the BTCC in 2014 being run by Bob Moffat, fielding his son Aiden Moffat. Aiden did a couple of rounds in 2013 with various teams becoming the youngest ever driver in BTCC. In 2020 the team were covering the news for a different reason. They expanded to two cars with 2017 champion Ash Sutton; who won the driver’s championship and helped secure massive success for the Laser Tools team.
During the first full season in 2014 for Aiden there would
have been lots of things to learn, a new car; a Chevrolet, a whole new team,
but the fact he has his family alongside him would have made him feel more
comfortable. I assume this first season was more focused on gaining experience
and getting race weekends under his belt. It was a pointless season until the
last round at Brands Hatch where Aiden was able to have two point finishes to
his name and almost a third.
In 2015 Laser Tools partnered with Ciceley and Aiden found
himself racing in a Mercedes-Benz A Class which helped make Aiden become a much
more regular face in the mid-field with his chrome blue livery hard to miss.
The team and Aiden got their maiden podium in the series when they visited
their home circuit, Knockhill with Aiden finishing 3rd. Bet it felt
good to get that first podium out the way and where better to do it than at his
closest circuit in-front of all the Scottish fans. Aiden scooped together 77
points in his second full season finishing 17th in the driver
standings.
2016 begins and Aiden starts it off with scoring points in
every race of the opening round at Brands. A couple of rounds later and
Thruxton, Oulton and Croft were all weekends to forget in terms of points.
However, Aiden came back stronger and scored points in all of the following
race weekends. He even ended the season in style and coming 2nd, his
best ever finish in the final race. It was such a successful season for Aiden
that he almost had double the points he did in 2015 finishing with 138 points
and 14th in the driver standings.
The team continue to use Mercedes in 2017 and the first
round did not go well with two retirements. That couldn’t keep them down as
Aiden and the team bounced back to take their maiden win in the season together
at the first round at Donington. After 3 seasons, they finally tasted champagne
from the top step of the podium. They scored points in more races than they didn’t,
and they were rewarded once again at the end of the season. Final race weekend
at Brands and Aiden pulls another win out the bag, making a habit out of ending
last race weekend with a podium! Aiden finished 13th in the driver
standings with 121 points.
2018 was a mixed bag of results in terms of points. However,
this time with 3 podiums, 1 more than last season; including a win at
Silverstone. They scored a similar amount of points as previous season with 117
points and 16th in the driver standings.
2019 rolls around and first race goes well with Aiden coming
home 4th. However, the car was starting to show its age slightly
after 5 years. Halfway through the season the team made a big decision. To
introduce their new car, the Infiniti Q50. Personally, I think it was a clever
idea to bring a new car in halfway through the season because you use those
races to get used to the car, play with set up. This was a big change for Aiden
as the Infiniti was rear wheel drive (RWD) and it’s not what he was used to. But
he had 5 rounds and plenty of chances to drive the car. The team got its maiden
podium with the Infiniti in this season. Rain started pouring just before they
were about to get underway for the last race of the day at Silverstone. Teams
and drivers had a decision to make, when to change to wets. Aiden’s engineer
Federico called him in early and at the right time, before we knew it Aiden was
through the field and chasing Jack Goff for first. I was in the garage that
weekend and it was a thrilling race, although nerve-wracking when we saw Aiden
spin but luckily, he kept it on the tarmac and brought it home in a well
deserved 2nd place. The team had taken a risk changing cars and they
were rewarded in the wet conditions.
2020 was the year of expansion. After getting the very
experienced in RWD Ash Sutton to test the car back in 2019 to aid development,
it led to him joining the team. Making it the first time Laser Tools had two
cars with two very good drivers. Ash seemed to be on the pace straight away and
that made everyone stop and look at what was happening. First weekend of the
season with a new car and team and Ash secured the first win in the Infiniti. A
few rounds in, you could tell after playing with the set-up Ash felt confident
and comfortable in the car and making himself a real championship contender. It
wasn’t long till Aiden was following suit in confidence and scoring in the top
10 multiple times. Aiden wasn’t able to step on the podium this season but did
come very close with a 4th place. I am sure it won’t be long until
we see a double podium finish for the team!
It looked as though this team were really finding their feet with the Infiniti and their hard work was paying off big time now. Ash won the overall and independents driver championship in the Infiniti, which is incredible. The first full season with the Infiniti’s, a new driver, a new team and they hit it out of the park. It didn’t stop there, with Ash and Aiden being so consistent and constantly in the points the team came third in the overall team’s championship but ultimately won the independents team championship for the very first time!
This team that has been around for years and had some
success, came into the 2020 season and had faith in everyone, whole of the team,
drivers and the cars and seeing Aiden’s mum Donna collect the trophy for
independents on TV was so heart-warming. The Moffat’s and the team are all so
welcoming and friendly. They all work so hard and to have it all pay off in the
way that it did, I’m sure it makes it all worthwhile for them.
I don’t believe this will be a one off either. I strongly
suspect they are going to be strong contenders for the same championships next season,
and I wish them all the best.
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