Steve Laidlaw has set his sights on becoming the 2025 TCR UK Touring Car Champion as he returns for his second season in the series.
Steve will be driving the CUPRA Leon VZ TCR, which he debuted at the Silverstone finale in October last year. He stays with Area Motorsport for 2025, with son Sam Laidlaw alongside him as his teammate.
Beginning the 2024 season at Snetterton in the Capture Motorsports run Hyundai i30 N TCR, Steve switched over to the Rob Baker team and the CUPRA Leon Competición TCR at Croft, the fourth weekend of the season.
The high point of last year was when Laidlaw took his first win in TCR UK in the final race of the weekend at Thruxton.
Making the switch to the new 2024 CUPRA Leon VZ TCR ahead of the finale was a clear sign of committing to TCR UK and returning for a championship challenge this year.
An intensive testing programme has already gotten underway, with the cars gaining mileage and the team working on setups ahead of the start of the 2025 season at Donington Park on 22-23 March.
Steve is eager to get his championship challenge underway after learning more about the car.
“2024 was a year of education and development for Sam and I as drivers. We achieved all of our goals and then exceeded many of them with the tireless help and support of Rob, Rich and the team at Area Motorsport,” said Steve
“In the off-season, we’ve been working on the sim and on driver development at a range of different tracks, making sure we are really learning how to get the very best out of the team, Car and Driver combos. We feel incredibly confident coming into 2025 that with all of those things on point and dedicated effort, taking the top step of the podium at many events is possible. And we absolutely competing for a championship title win.”
Team Principal Rob Baker is excited for the new season ahead as Steve prepares for his title goal.
“We’re really proud as a team of what Steve achieved last year; he set his goal of a Goodyear Diamond Award win and quickly smashed that. The goal then changed to a race win, which he took at Thruxton,” explained Rob.
“His focus and drive to do well, along with a good car underneath him, has propelled him to want to fight for the championship in 2025. Given the right equipment and the progress we’re making over the winter, it’s a great aim to have.”
TCR UK Championship Promoter Stewart Lines comments on Steve’s return to the championship.
“It’s great to see Steve come back for 2025. He made a big commitment to TCR UK with the purchase of the CUPRA Leon VZ TCRs, and I look forward to seeing how the cars perform now that they have been developed further,” explained Stewart.
“Steve proved last year that you can come into the championship, learnt about the car and racing, become a front runner and then a race winner. I wish him all the best for the new season.”
To learn more about the TCR UK Touring Car Championship, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/ for more information and how to get involved.
To learn more about the 2025 TCR UK Touring Car Championship Calendar events, visit https://www.tcr-uk.co.uk/2025-calendar/ for more information.
