Rob Collard
Encyclopedia
Robert Collard is an auto racing
driver from Hampshire
, best known for racing in the British Touring Car Championship, winning two races in a West Surrey Racing
MG, and claiming the Independent's Cup title in 2003. In 2008 he returned to running the series full-time, driving for the Motorbase Performance
team, where he remained for 2009, before returning to West Surrey Racing. Collard also owns his own demolition firm, R Collard Ltd.
s, only switching to circuit racing in his late 20s. He raced Formula Ford for 3 years, winning the 1998 Formula Ford Festival. However, as most drives in Formula 3 and higher went to younger drivers, he turned his attention to saloon based racing, coming 3rd in the Vauxhall
SRi V6 championship.
In 2000 the British Touring Car Championship
launched Class B, featuring lower-powered but cheaper cars, to fill its relatively thin grid. Rob took up this opportunity, and finished 4th overall in his class. He only raced a partial season in the renamed Production Class in 2001, concentrating on preparing a Renault
Clio for a full assault on the Production Class in 2002 with his own Collard Racing team.
The season was a disaster however. Engine reliability and lasting performance was low, and a victory and a 2nd in the opening meeting proved to be a false dawn, as the small team struggled to get working machinery to the races, and he was outside the championship top 10. He also contested 6 ETCC
races in a Nissan Primera
for RJN Motorsport that year.
Undeterred, Rob redoubled his efforts for 2003
, moving up to the main Touring Class with a Vauxhall Astra
. He beat several better-funded teams and drivers to win the Independent's Cup, and finished 10th overall ahead of several 'works' drivers. For 2004
there were less works teams, with MG pulling out and Honda
scaling down to only one car. As a result more competitive cars had independent status. Collard Racing had no realistic hope of matching Anthony Reid
's independent MG or Matt Neal
's Honda
, and finished 6th in the Indy cup and 12th overall.
In 2005
Rob replaced Reid in West Surrey Racing's MG, concentrating purely on racing rather than team ownership. This was his most competitive season to date, with 2 outright wins and 7th place overall. For 2006 he was joined in the team by Colin Turkington
under WSR's new guise "Team RAC". This time he finished 9th overall with a single podium.
Collard's heavy handed tactics often come under criticism from fellow drivers and teams, as well as numerous fans of the series. It is believed that Rob's racing licence amassed 9 points in the 2006 season, just three short of a ban from racing. Fellow drivers have often spoken out about his lack of driving standards, one going as far as to describe him as a "rock-ape" at a 2006 meeting.
In 2007 Collard had no BTCC drive, instead contesting the early rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup
UK, achieving little success in these big difficult-to-control rear-wheel-drive cars. He contested the final round of the BTCC for GR Asia, and returned full-time in 2008 in a Motorbase BMW. At Croft
he scored their best-ever result in 4th, after he and team-mate Steven Kane
ran 3rd and 4th for a while. The team had worked on damper settings before the meeting. For 2009 Collard and Jonathan Adam
race Motorbase's BMWs. He won two races early on in 2009 at the opening round at Brands Hatch
and at Donington Park
. He came close to adding a third at Snetterton
, before contact with James Nash
saw him spin across the track into the path of Stephen Jelley
, resulting in a huge collision. Collard complained of abdominal pain and was taken to hospital, while Nash was excluded from the results. He then suffered another big incident at the Next round at Knockhill when he and Matt Neal collided after Matt Neal lost control of car. Blighted by incidents and 'DNFs' through the second half of the season Rob Collard was unable to match the form of the first half of the season but still ended up 6th in the BTCC drivers championship, his best performance in the BTCC so far.
For 2010 Collard has returned to West Surrey Racing, replacing reigning champion Colin Turkington who had failed to raise the necessary budget.
, shown during October 2006. He has told ITV
's BTCC coverage that his hero was the late Colin McRae
, and his ambition is to win the World Touring Car Championship
.
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver from Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, best known for racing in the British Touring Car Championship, winning two races in a West Surrey Racing
West Surrey Racing
Founded in 1981, West Surrey Racing is a UK-based motorsport team run by New Zealander Dick Bennetts. He is responsible for masterminding the careers of such names as Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, Jonathan Palmer, Rubens Barrichello, Maurício Gugelmin and Eddie Irvine with his involvement in F3 and...
MG, and claiming the Independent's Cup title in 2003. In 2008 he returned to running the series full-time, driving for the Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance is an English motor racing team, founded in 2004 by former Production Saloon racer Dave Bartrum. They are best known for their British Touring Car Championship campaigns, which produced a first overall podium at the Snetterton meeting in 2008.-Porsche Carrera Cup Great...
team, where he remained for 2009, before returning to West Surrey Racing. Collard also owns his own demolition firm, R Collard Ltd.
Career
For many years he raced hot rodHot Rods (oval racing)
Hot Rods or simply Rods refer to a number of British oval racing formula . Hot Rods were introduced at Hednesford Hills Raceway in the early 1960s as a British counterpart to NASCAR-style production car racing...
s, only switching to circuit racing in his late 20s. He raced Formula Ford for 3 years, winning the 1998 Formula Ford Festival. However, as most drives in Formula 3 and higher went to younger drivers, he turned his attention to saloon based racing, coming 3rd in the Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
SRi V6 championship.
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
launched Class B, featuring lower-powered but cheaper cars, to fill its relatively thin grid. Rob took up this opportunity, and finished 4th overall in his class. He only raced a partial season in the renamed Production Class in 2001, concentrating on preparing a Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
Clio for a full assault on the Production Class in 2002 with his own Collard Racing team.
The season was a disaster however. Engine reliability and lasting performance was low, and a victory and a 2nd in the opening meeting proved to be a false dawn, as the small team struggled to get working machinery to the races, and he was outside the championship top 10. He also contested 6 ETCC
European Touring Car Championship
The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...
races in a Nissan Primera
Nissan Primera
The Nissan Primera is a medium sized family car produced by the Japanese automaker Nissan for the Japanese domestic and European markets.-Nissan Primera P10 :...
for RJN Motorsport that year.
2003 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2003 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 46th British Touring Car Championship season.-Changes for 2003:-Teams and drivers:For 2003 all three main manufacturers in the premier Touring class ran three cars...
, moving up to the main Touring Class with a Vauxhall Astra
Vauxhall Astra
Astra is a model name which has been used by Vauxhall, the British subsidiary of General Motors , on their small family car ranges since 1979. Astras are technically essentially identical with similar vehicles offered by GM's German subsidiary Opel in most other European countries...
. He beat several better-funded teams and drivers to win the Independent's Cup, and finished 10th overall ahead of several 'works' drivers. For 2004
2004 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2004 Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 47th British Touring Car Championship season.-Teams and drivers:...
there were less works teams, with MG pulling out and Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
scaling down to only one car. As a result more competitive cars had independent status. Collard Racing had no realistic hope of matching Anthony Reid
Anthony Reid
Anthony Reid is a British auto racing driver, born on 17 May 1957 in Glasgow, Scotland. Although Scottish he now lives in England.-Formula cars:...
's independent MG or Matt Neal
Matt Neal
Matthew Neal is a British motor racing driver. He won the British Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2011. He has also won a European Touring Car Championship race. He is 6' 6" tall, making him almost entirely unable to race single-seaters...
's Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
, and finished 6th in the Indy cup and 12th overall.
In 2005
2005 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2005 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 48th British Touring Car Championship season. As in 2004, there were ten racing weekends at nine different circuits; each round comprising three races, making a thirty round competition in total.-Teams and drivers:After 2004 saw...
Rob replaced Reid in West Surrey Racing's MG, concentrating purely on racing rather than team ownership. This was his most competitive season to date, with 2 outright wins and 7th place overall. For 2006 he was joined in the team by Colin Turkington
Colin Turkington
Colin Henry Turkington is a Northern Irish auto racing driver. His most notable success to date was becoming 2009 British Touring Car Champion driving for Team RAC. Most recently he has competed in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship driving a BMW 320si for West Surrey Racing...
under WSR's new guise "Team RAC". This time he finished 9th overall with a single podium.
Collard's heavy handed tactics often come under criticism from fellow drivers and teams, as well as numerous fans of the series. It is believed that Rob's racing licence amassed 9 points in the 2006 season, just three short of a ban from racing. Fellow drivers have often spoken out about his lack of driving standards, one going as far as to describe him as a "rock-ape" at a 2006 meeting.
In 2007 Collard had no BTCC drive, instead contesting the early rounds of the Porsche Carrera Cup
Porsche Carrera Cup
Porsche Carrera Cup is a number of one-make sports car racing series competed with Porsche 911 Carreras, including the following:-Regional:...
UK, achieving little success in these big difficult-to-control rear-wheel-drive cars. He contested the final round of the BTCC for GR Asia, and returned full-time in 2008 in a Motorbase BMW. At Croft
Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England. The tarmac circuit is just over long and is based on the lands of an airfield, but has long since moved on from being a basic airfield circuit...
he scored their best-ever result in 4th, after he and team-mate Steven Kane
Steven Kane
Steven Kane is a Northern Irish racing driver who currently competes in the American Le Mans Series .-Career:Kane, who was born in Newtownards, County Down was voted McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year in 2001 , after winning the Junior Formula Ford Zetec championship by taking 8 wins...
ran 3rd and 4th for a while. The team had worked on damper settings before the meeting. For 2009 Collard and Jonathan Adam
Jonathan Adam
Jonathan Adam is a Scottish racing driver. He was the champion of the SEAT Cupra Championship in two of its six seasons - winning in 2007 and in 2008. He also won the 2005 Elf Renault Clio Cup...
race Motorbase's BMWs. He won two races early on in 2009 at the opening round at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
and at Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
. He came close to adding a third at Snetterton
Snetterton
Snetterton is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. The village is located some north-east of the town of Thetford and south-west of the city of Norwich....
, before contact with James Nash
James Nash
James Nash is popularly acknowledged as the first person to discover gold in the area of Queensland, Australia now known as Gympie.-References:...
saw him spin across the track into the path of Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley
Stephen Jelley is a British auto racing driver.-Single Seaters:Jelley moved up from Formula Ford to the National Class of the British Formula Three Championship for 2004, taking three class wins. In 2006 and 2007 he drove for Räikkönen Robertson Racing in British F3...
, resulting in a huge collision. Collard complained of abdominal pain and was taken to hospital, while Nash was excluded from the results. He then suffered another big incident at the Next round at Knockhill when he and Matt Neal collided after Matt Neal lost control of car. Blighted by incidents and 'DNFs' through the second half of the season Rob Collard was unable to match the form of the first half of the season but still ended up 6th in the BTCC drivers championship, his best performance in the BTCC so far.
For 2010 Collard has returned to West Surrey Racing, replacing reigning champion Colin Turkington who had failed to raise the necessary budget.
Personal
Rob's family starred in an episode of Channel 4's Wife SwapWife Swap
Wife Swap is a reality television program, originally produced by UK independent television production company RDF Media and created by Stephen Lambert. It was first broadcast in 2003 on the UK's Channel 4. Since 2004, a US version has also been broadcast on the ABC network...
, shown during October 2006. He has told ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's BTCC coverage that his hero was the late Colin McRae
Colin McRae
Colin Steele McRae, MBE was a Scottish rally driver born in Lanark.The son of five-time British Rally Champion Jimmy McRae and brother of rally driver Alister McRae, Colin McRae was the 1991 and 1992 British Rally Champion and, in 1995, became the first British person and the youngest to win the...
, and his ambition is to win the World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
.