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BTCC Driver Profiles - Rob Collard
Born:
1 October 1968
Lives:
Hook, Hampshire
Links: http://www.collardracing.co.uk/
Rob Collard runs a demolition company and uses some of the profits to fund his racing. He learned his trade the hard way on the short oval circuits before emarking on a path that would see him form his own independent touring car team. The hard work was rewarded with the 2003 independents' cup. He sold his Astra to Mark Proctor at the start of 2005 and put the money towards a drive with WSR, which netted him his first outright race win at a soaking wet Knockhill. He proved it was no fluke by re-visiting the podium at Silverstone and then rounding off his season with another win at Brands Hatch. After a winter of uncertainty he was retained by WSR and partnered with Colin Turkington.
Career highlights:
2006 BTCC with Team RAC, driving an MG Z-S entered by WSR. Brands Hatch got off to a low-key start as Collard qualified 9th and finished the first two races in 7th and 6th; but he was a main feature of the third race as he challenged Neal for 2nd place, eventually nerfing the defending champion into the wall at Paddock Hill bend, bringing out the red flags and causing his exclusion from the results. Scored just two single points at Mondello as he suffered car problems including the loss of oil pressure in the first race. As part of his punishment for Brands, he had to serve a six-place grid penalty at Oulton Park but elected to start from the pit lane. Nevertheless he racked up three finishes in the points, the best being 4th place in round nine.
2005 BTCC with WSR. The car proved instantly quick and Rob opened his account with two 4th places and a stunning 2nd at Donington. Was phenomenal in the wet conditions of Oulton Park, and was unlucky to miss out on a podium. Was in the points in all bar one race out of nine at Croft, Mondello and Snetterton. Backed up the field in race two at Knockhill to ensure a front row start for race three, which he converted into a superb first win in wet conditions despite pressure from Muller. There was disappointment in the opening two races at Silverstone, but he was back on the podium for race three. It was a pattern which would be repeated at the final round, Rob behing spun off by Gareth Howell in race one, and knocked by James Pickford in race two. However he made up for it by taking a lights-to-flag victory in the final race of the year, bringing his points total to 173 and seeing him end up in 7th place in the championship.
2004 Defending his BTCC Independents title, again in his Astra Coupe. Drove almost an entire lap of Brands Hatch blind when his bonnet flipped up over the windscreen! Found the championship much more demanding but nevertheless put in some fine performances, especially when conditions were tricky. Finished a credible 12th place racking up 44 points along the way.
2003 BTCC with Collard Racing, Vauxhall Astra Coupe. His team, composed largely of volunteers, overcame setbacks including a huge car-wrecking shunt at Thruxton to lift the Independent's Cup at the final round.
2002 BTCC Production with Renault Clio, 12th
2001 BTCC Production - 13th
2000 BTCC Class B - 4th
1999 Vauxhall Vectra Sri V6 Challenge - 3rd; test for Vauxhall's works BTCC team
1998 Formula Ford Championship with Van Diemen - 9th; winner of heat and semi-final in Formula Ford Festival; Vauxhall Vectra Winter Series
1997 Formula Ford Championship - 3rd
1996 Formula Ford Championship - 4th
1978-95 Short oval hot rod racing - National, English, British and European Champion
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