Rob Collard confirmed at Motorbase

Rob Collard has been confirmed at Motorbase Performance BMW in the British Touring Car Championship for the coming season. After having scored a podium finish at Knockhill and ending up fifth in the Independents’ championship in 2008, the former champion of the Independents’ class is now gearing up for the new season.

The Hampshireman is delighted for having reached an agreement with the Kent-based team:

“To re-sign for Motorbase is a great opportunity for me”, Said the 40-year-old driver. “You see when other teams retain the same car and same driver they get a lot of benefit in terms of consistency, so we hope to replicate that.”

“The BMW will be very strong this year and the team has been busy during the closed season recruiting new staff and sponsors. So we will have a great package when we line up on the grid for the first race of 2009. I think it’s going to be a very good season for us.”

David Bartrum, Motorbase team principal, is happy as well at retaining Collard:

“It’s great to have Rob Collard in the team again for the season ahead. He worked really well with the squad last year to help the car progress throughout the season, and it will be good to have him in it again this year with all that experience.

“We will look to keep that progress going and have an even more positive season in 2009. Having finished the last championship on such a high at Brands Hatch we are really looking forward to going there for the first race of the new campaign.”

Collard won the Independents’ trophy in 2003 with a Vauxhall Astra and contested in 6 ETCC races in 2002. After a strong experience in hot rods, Collard raced in Formula Ford for three years before switching to touring cars, making his debut in 2000 in the Btcc with a Renault Clio in the then-called Class B.