RICKY SUBS FOR DAD ROB IN BTCC

Ricky Collard will make his British Touring Car Championship race debut in a WSR BMW 125i M Sport at Rockingham this weekend deputising for his father Rob, who has been ruled out of the next two meetings on medical grounds.

Rob Collard, who is 13th in this year’s points and has taken one victory, suffered an accident in the opening race at Snetterton at the end of July and then a more sizeable shunt in race two, ruling him out for the weekend.

Collard, who had suffered concussion in a big accident at Silverstone at the end of 2017, explained: “After my 2017 crash, I was cleared to return to racing earlier this year while remaining under close monitoring by the TOCA medical team.

“After reviewing the results of a concussion test with the medics at the track [following the incidents at Snetterton], it was ruled that I was unfit to participate in the special ‘Diamond Double’ race and that I should not race at Rockingham or Knockhill either.

“I’m absolutely gutted for Team BMW and I’d like to thank the TOCA medical team for its professionalism and support.”

Collard Jr has driven the rearwheel-drive BTCC car twice in brief test sessions at Silverstone and Brands Hatch, but will go into this weekend’s three races with limited track time.

Rob said: “He was meant to be on standby for BMW at the DTM races at Brands, too, but they have cleared him to do these races. There is a lot to learn, but I am going to be on hand throughout the weekend to offer all the pointers that I can.”