Breaking news
BTCC Rockingham
Ricky Collard to deputise for father Rob in BTCC
BMW junior driver Ricky Collard will replace his father Rob in the WSR team in the next two meetings of the BTCC at Rockingham and Knockhill.
Matt James
Published: Aug 7, 2018, 11:01 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 22-year-old has been released from his commitments with BMW at the DTM meeting at Brands Hatch this weekend, where he was due to be a reserve driver, to step in for his father who has been ruled out on medical grounds.
Collard Sr suffered an accident at the last round of the BTCC at Snetterton which aggravated an old concussion injury he sustained at Silverstone in September last year. He has been advised to stand down until September.
The younger Collard, whose last race was for BMW in the Spa 24 Hours, said: “The BTCC is one of the biggest championships in the world and nobody can expect to just come in and run at the front straight away. That is disrespectful to the guys who are there, who are always at a high level.
“For me, it would be awesome if I could just get to the end of race one and see the chequered flag. That would be a real box ticked for me. I am not going to set any objectives because I know how hard the BTCC is.”
Collard Jr has had two brief runs in the car at Silverstone at the end of last year and again at Brands Hatch at the start of this campaign, but still says he will be on a steep learning curve.
“Dad has been really positive, really telling me I can do this. But I am used to driving race cars with significant aerodynamics whereas the 125i M Sport doesn’t, so that will be something to learn,” he added.
“Dad will have a headset and he will be on the pit wall – so if you see me unplug my pits-to-car radio on the TV you will know he is nagging me too much! Seriously, it is great to have someone like him in my corner and I will be trying to get as much advice from him as possible.
“I have been at BTCC meetings virtually since I could walk. I have also watched it on TV, and I know most of the drivers by their public image, but not all of them personally. It is going to be interesting to race against them and be part of that pack.”
Collard Sr, who is 13th in the BTCC points standings, and has took a race win at Oulton Park in June, said he hoped to be back in the cockpit later on in the season.
“There have been some meetings this season where I have felt absolutely fine, but at others I haven’t felt that great,” said the 48-year-old. “I am disappointed to miss out, but this is a great chance for Ricky.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Frédéric Gabillon - A Frenchman in the NASCAR Pinty’s Series
Next article Mercedes launches eSports team, signs champion Leigh
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt James
Butcher returns to Motorbase for 2020 BTCC season
BTCC
BTCC Jan 31, 2020
Butcher returns to Motorbase for 2020 BTCC season
Injured Neal aims to return for BTCC opener
BTCC
BTCC Jan 24, 2020
Injured Neal aims to return for BTCC opener
Chilton moves across to BTC Racing for 2020
BTCC
BTCC Jan 10, 2020
Chilton moves across to BTC Racing for 2020
More from
Rob Collard
Collard joins Plato at PMR Vauxhall
BTCC
BTCC Feb 26, 2019
Collard joins Plato at PMR Vauxhall
Collard to skip next two BTCC rounds on medical advice
BTCC
BTCC Aug 6, 2018
Collard to skip next two BTCC rounds on medical advice
Oulton Park BTCC: Collard leads WSR BMW 1-2-3 in final race
BTCC
BTCC
Oulton Park
Jun 10, 2018
Oulton Park BTCC: Collard leads WSR BMW 1-2-3 in final race
More from
West Surrey Racing
BTCC Snetterton: Turkington pips Hill to take last gasp pole
BTCC
BTCC
Snetterton
Aug 13, 2022
BTCC Snetterton: Turkington pips Hill to take last gasp pole
Turkington, Jelley stay with WSR BMW squad for 2022
BTCC
BTCC Feb 17, 2022
Turkington, Jelley stay with WSR BMW squad for 2022
Jake Hill joins West Surrey Racing for 2022 BTCC season
BTCC
BTCC Dec 31, 2021
Jake Hill joins West Surrey Racing for 2022 BTCC season
Latest news
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1 2 h
“I was getting beat up” – How Daniel Ricciardo burned out on ‘humiliating’ F1 return
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
IMSA
IMSA IMSA 3 h
Myers Riley Motorsports adds Andretti alongside returning Fraga for 2027 IMSA GTD campaign
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Las Vegas GP
3 h
Las Vegas GP reveals neon sign-inspired trophy design
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe