The TCR UK roster for 2025 is beginning to grow as Sam Laidlaw has been announced officially as a returnee for the upcoming campaign.

The Cupra Leon VZ racer will compete under the Area Motorsport banner in the car that he debuted at the end of the 2024 season during the Silverstone National finale.

“I’m excited to return to TCR UK this year, staying with Area Motorsport and sticking with the new CUPRA. I’ve worked through a thorough testing programme over the winter, learning about the team and the car and working together,” he said.

“I’ve improved further as a driver because of this, and I look forward to fighting at the front this year; there is a championship to fight for, and I want to be in the mix before the end of the season.”

Laidlaw joined TCR UK at the mid-point of last season, jumping into a Capture Motorsport run Hyundai i30 N at Croft, which he campaigned for three rounds, achieving a best finish of fourth at Thruxton – a race won by Dad Steve, who he will be teammates with this year, as both commit to a first full season.

Area Team boss Rob Baker said: “Sam joined us for the final round of 2024 in a new car to him and the team at the time. He showed great pace out of the box, only hampered by a couple of poor starts due to getting his head around the start procedure in the Cupra VZ.”

“Since that round, we’ve done multiple test days with both Sam and Steve together, and his pace, understanding of how we work, and determination has been great to see. Sam has all the credentials to run at the front this year, and with some more testing before the season starts, we’re confident he will be battling at the sharp end.”

The end of season jaunt in the VZ gave Sam three top ten finishes at the last round in what essentially was an out of the box machine. The Laidlaw pair have tested the car across the winter and will be ones to watch for the season opener on the Donington National layout. The car clearly has the pace to be a winner, but it will be the job of driver and team to make the most of it.