Rob Collard


Robert Collard is a British 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.

Career

For many years, he raced hot rods, only switching to circuit racing in his late 20s. He raced Formula Ford for 3 years. 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.
at the Brands Hatch round of the 2006 British Touring Car 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 returned to West Surrey Racing, replacing reigning champion Colin Turkington who had failed to raise the necessary budget. He finished the year in 9th.
Collard remained with WSR for 2011 but failed to register a race win. He finished the year 8th in the Drivers Championship. In 2012, he won 3 races with the team thus finishing 5th overall his best final championship position. In 2013, the team re-signed 2009 champion Colin Turkington. WSR also introduced the new BMW 3 series. Collard achieved a solitary podium and finished up in 13th place overall.
In 2014, Collard again remained with WSR, winning 1 race and finishing 6th in the drivers championship. He remained with the team for 2015, where he won the first race of the season and finished in 10th place in the championship.

Personal

Rob's family starred in an episode of Channel 4's Wife Swap, 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. He is the father of racing driver Ricky Collard.
Collard endorsed the Conservative Party in the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

Racing record

Complete British Touring Car Championship results

Races in bold indicate pole position. Races in italics indicate fastest lap * signifies that driver led race for at least one lap.
YearTeamCarClass123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930PosPts
2000Bintcliffe SportNissan PrimeraBRH
1		BRH
2		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
Ret		THR
1
DNS		THR
2
DNS		KNO
1		KNO
2		OUL
1
12		OUL
2
11		SIL
1
13		SIL
2
Ret		CRO
1
11		CRO
2
8		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
9		DON
1
14		DON
2
Ret		BRH
1
Ret		BRH
2
12		OUL
1
Ret		OUL
2
DNS		SIL
1
Ret		SIL
2
Ret		4th81
2001Collard RacingRenault Clio 172BRH
1
6		BRH
2
DNS		THR
1
Ret		THR
2
NC		OUL
1
Ret		OUL
2
DNS		SIL
1
12		SIL
2
Ret		MON
1
Ret		MON
2
DNS		DON
1
11		DON
2
Ret		KNO
1
10		KNO
2
8		SNE
1
5		SNE
2
Ret		CRO
1
DNS		CRO
2
DNS		OUL
1
DNS		OUL
2
DNS		SIL
1
11		SIL
2
Ret		DON
1
DNS		DON
2
DNS		BRH
1
15		BRH
2
Ret		-513th46
2002Collard RacingRenault Clio 172BRH
1
7		BRH
2
9		OUL
1
DNS		OUL
2
DNS		THR
1
DNS		THR
2
DNS		SIL
1
14		SIL
2
Ret		MON
1		MON
2		CRO
1
DNS		CRO
2
DNS		SNE
1		SNE
2		KNO
1		KNO
2		BRH
1		BRH
2		DON
1		DON
2		-512th34
2003Collard RacingVauxhall Astra CoupéMON
1
6		MON
2
7		BRH
1
13		BRH
2
Ret		THR
1
Ret		THR
2
DNS		SIL
1
Ret		SIL
2
9		ROC
1
7		ROC
2
5		CRO
1
Ret		CRO
2
8		SNE
1
8		SNE
2
6		BRH
1
Ret		BRH
2
Ret		DON
1
9*		DON
2
16		OUL
1
8		OUL
2
7		10th42
2004Collard RacingVauxhall Astra CoupéTHR
1
11		THR
2
5		THR
3
8		BRH
1
10		BRH
2
15		BRH
3
15		SIL
1
Ret		SIL
2
13		SIL
3
DNS		OUL
1
5		OUL
2
Ret		OUL
3
4		MON
1
13		MON
2
11		MON
3
Ret		CRO
1
15		CRO
2
Ret		CRO
3
9		KNO
1
8		KNO
2
11		KNO
3
Ret		BRH
1
15		BRH
2
Ret		BRH
3
9		SNE
1
7		SNE
2
9		SNE
3
11		DON
1
13		DON
2
8		DON
3
7		12th44
2005West Surrey RacingMG ZSDON
1
4		DON
2
2		DON
3
4		THR
1
5		THR
2
11		THR
3
Ret		BRH
1
6		BRH
2
6		BRH
3
Ret		OUL
1
8		OUL
2
4		OUL
3
4*		CRO
1
7		CRO
2
4		CRO
3
5		MON
1
5		MON
2
4		MON
3
3		SNE
1
5		SNE
2
5		SNE
3
12		KNO
1
9		KNO
2
9		KNO
3
1*		SIL
1
10		SIL
2
10		SIL
3
2*		BRH
1
Ret		BRH
2
9		BRH
3
1*		7th173
2006Team RACMG ZSBRH
1
7		BRH
2
6		BRH
3
DSQ		MON
1
Ret		MON
2
10		MON
3
Ret		OUL
1
6		OUL
2
5		OUL
3
4		THR
1
5		THR
2
3		THR
3
6		CRO
1
5		CRO
2
Ret		CRO
3
10		DON
1
9		DON
2
13		DON
3
Ret		SNE
1
11		SNE
2
5		SNE
3
Ret		KNO
1
Ret		KNO
2
Ret		KNO
3
7		BRH
1
5		BRH
2
7		BRH
3
6		SIL
1
10		SIL
2
5		SIL
3
7		9th97
2007GR AsiaSEAT LeónBRH
1		BRH
2		BRH
3		ROC
1		ROC
2		ROC
3		THR
1		THR
2		THR
3		CRO
1		CRO
2		CRO
3		OUL
1		OUL
2		OUL
3		DON
1		DON
2		DON
3		SNE
1		SNE
2		SNE
3		BRH
1		BRH
2		BRH
3		KNO
1		KNO
2		KNO
3		THR
1
11		THR
2
Ret		THR
3
10		27th1
2008Motorbase PerformanceBMW 320siBRH
1
12		BRH
2
Ret		BRH
3
11		ROC
1
13		ROC
2
12		ROC
3
8		DON
1
Ret		DON
2
DNS		DON
3
Ret		THR
1
14		THR
2
14		THR
3
11		CRO
1
5		CRO
2
4		CRO
3
Ret*		SNE
1
9		SNE
2
4		SNE
3
9		OUL
1
10		OUL
2
Ret		OUL
3
8		KNO
1
7		KNO
2
6		KNO
3
2		SIL
1
16		SIL
2
9		SIL
3
7		BRH
1
3		BRH
2
4		BRH
3
6		12th84
2009Airwaves BMWBMW 320siBRH
1
4*		BRH
2
1*		BRH
3
8		THR
1
17		THR
2
5		THR
3
5		DON
1
4		DON
2
9		DON
3
1*		OUL
1
9		OUL
2
DNS		OUL
3
4		CRO
1
4		CRO
2
4		CRO
3
7		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
7		SNE
3
Ret*		KNO
1
Ret		KNO
2
12		KNO
3
Ret		SIL
1
6*		SIL
2
9		SIL
3
2*		ROC
1
4		ROC
2
Ret		ROC
3
Ret		BRH
1
6		BRH
2
4		BRH
3
Ret		6th145
2010WSRBMW 320siTHR
1
Ret		THR
2
9		THR
3
Ret*		ROC
1
10		ROC
2
2		ROC
3
6		BRH
1
4		BRH
2
12		BRH
3
4		OUL
1
3		OUL
2
15		OUL
3
8		CRO
1
2		CRO
2
8		CRO
3
17		SNE
1
10		SNE
2
7		SNE
3
2		SIL
1
6		SIL
2
2		SIL
3
12		KNO
1
Ret		KNO
2
Ret		KNO
3
6		DON
1
16		DON
2
7		DON
3
2		BRH
1
5		BRH
2
3		BRH
3
6		8th144
2011WSRBMW 320siBRH
1
17		BRH
2
9		BRH
3
7		DON
1
6		DON
2
5		DON
3
Ret		THR
1
12		THR
2
14		THR
3
13		OUL
1
5		OUL
2
3		OUL
3
14		CRO
1
3		CRO
2
2		CRO
3
3		SNE
1
23		SNE
2
10		SNE
3
12		KNO
1
5		KNO
2
5		KNO
3
2		ROC
1
Ret		ROC
2
10		ROC
3
3		BRH
1
8		BRH
2
22		BRH
3
Ret		SIL
1
8		SIL
2
23		SIL
3
23		8th108
2012eBay MotorsBMW 320siBRH
1
1*		BRH
2
6*		BRH
3
6*		DON
1
10*		DON
2
8		DON
3
4		THR
1
4		THR
2
7		THR
3
7		OUL
1
3*		OUL
2
14*		OUL
3
6		CRO
1
2		CRO
2
5		CRO
3
5		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
NC		SNE
3
9		KNO
1
1*		KNO
2
1*		KNO
3
9		ROC
1
5		ROC
2
11		ROC
3
13		SIL
1
4		SIL
2
2*		SIL
3
3		BRH
1
6		BRH
2
Ret		BRH
3
19		5th303
2013eBay MotorsBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
Ret		BRH
2
Ret		BRH
3
Ret		DON
1
15		DON
2
12		DON
3
12		THR
1
13		THR
2
13		THR
3
15		OUL
1
10		OUL
2
NC		OUL
3
11		CRO
1
9		CRO
2
6		CRO
3
14		SNE
1
10		SNE
2
Ret		SNE
3
9		KNO
1
6		KNO
2
4		KNO
3
3		ROC
1
7		ROC
2
Ret		ROC
3
Ret		SIL
1
5		SIL
2
Ret		SIL
3
12		BRH
1
7		BRH
2
14		BRH
3
8		13th140
2014eBay MotorsBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
6		BRH
2
6		BRH
3
4*		DON
1
4		DON
2
Ret		DON
3
7		THR
1
5		THR
2
3		THR
3
10		OUL
1
2		OUL
2
3		OUL
3
11		CRO
1
4		CRO
2
3		CRO
3
2		SNE
1
9		SNE
2
18		SNE
3
6		KNO
1
12		KNO
2
5		KNO
3
1*		ROC
1
11		ROC
2
9		ROC
3
6		SIL
1
7		SIL
2
Ret		SIL
3
DNS		BRH
1
6		BRH
2
3*		BRH
3
Ret		-36th275
2015Team JCT600 with GardXBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
1*		BRH
2
16		BRH
3
Ret		DON
1
8		DON
2
6		DON
3
4*		THR
1
13		THR
2
2*		THR
3
14		OUL
1
13		OUL
2
Ret		OUL
3
14		CRO
1
3		CRO
2
6		CRO
3
1*		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
NC		SNE
3
10		KNO
1
1*		KNO
2
2		KNO
3
Ret		ROC
1
18		ROC
2
28		ROC
3
DNS		SIL
1
7		SIL
2
9		SIL
3
2*		BRH
1
10		BRH
2
10		BRH
3
7		10th226
2016Team JCT600 with GardXBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
6		BRH
2
16		BRH
3
6		DON
1
6		DON
2
1*		DON
3
4		THR
1
6		THR
2
2		THR
3
6		OUL
1
23		OUL
2
25		OUL
3
6		CRO
1
7		CRO
2
1*		CRO
3
4		SNE
1
16		SNE
2
4		SNE
3
2*		KNO
1
17		KNO
2
5		KNO
3
Ret		ROC
1
14		ROC
2
3		ROC
3
6		SIL
1
7		SIL
2
7		SIL
3
3*		BRH
1
12		BRH
2
10		BRH
3
9		5th278
2017Team BMWBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
7		BRH
2
2		BRH
3
6		DON
1
6		DON
2
2		DON
3
12		THR
1
10		THR
2
1*		THR
3
7		OUL
1
5		OUL
2
2		OUL
3
6		CRO
1
4		CRO
2
3		CRO
3
8		SNE
1
9		SNE
2
3		SNE
3
2		KNO
1
4		KNO
2
4		KNO
3
11		ROC
1
17		ROC
2
8		ROC
3
Ret		SIL
1
Ret		SIL
2
DNS		SIL
3
DNS		BRH
1
WD		BRH
2
WD		BRH
3
WD		5th256
2018Team BMWBMW 125i M SportBRH
1
15		BRH
2
26		BRH
3
Ret		DON
1
11		DON
2
13		DON
3
4		THR
1
11		THR
2
16		THR
3
10		OUL
1
9		OUL
2
6		OUL
3
1*		CRO
1
6		CRO
2
28		CRO
3
11		SNE
1
Ret		SNE
2
Ret		SNE
3
DNS		ROC
1		ROC
2		ROC
3		KNO
1		KNO
2		KNO
3		SIL
1		SIL
2		SIL
3		BRH
1		BRH
2		BRH
3		19th86
2019Sterling Insurance with Power Maxed RacingVauxhall AstraBRH
1
21		BRH
2
22		BRH
3
Ret		DON
1
10		DON
2
7		DON
3
2		THR
1
8		THR
2
9		THR
3
14		CRO
1
Ret		CRO
2
19		CRO
3
26		OUL
1
15		OUL
2
22		OUL
3
23		SNE
1
7		SNE
2
14		SNE
3
4		THR
1
6		THR
2
6		THR
3
2*		KNO
1
NC		KNO
2
17		KNO
3
16		SIL
1
12		SIL
2
NC		SIL
3
21		BRH
1
15		BRH
2
17		BRH
3
18		16th118

Complete European Touring Car Championship results

YearTeamCar1234567891011121314151617181920PosPts
2002RJN MotorsportNissan PrimeraMAG
1		MAG
2		SIL
1		SIL
2		BRN
1		BRN
2		JAR
1		JAR
2		AND
1		AND
2		OSC
1		OSC
2		SPA
1		SPA
2		PER
1
Ret		PER
2
DNS		DON
1
14		DON
2
12		EST
1
10		EST
2
12		27th0