Andy Priaulx sorry for “f**ing up” Rob Collard’s race

West Surrey Racing’s Andy Priaulx has apologised for his clash with team-mate Rob Collard on the final lap of the second race at Oulton Park, conceding that he “f**ked up” both of their results.

The pair were battling over fourth place when Priaulx attempted a move around the outside of Collard at the hairpin, which broke the leading BMW’s suspension and saw the Guernseyman limp home in 15th.

The triple world champion has since apologised to Collard, who was classified 25th and a lap down in the standings.

Both drivers gave their views on the incident to TouringCarTimes.

“It’s annoying, I had a great race, I was on the soft tyre, I had ballast on board, I saw Rob coming to me and got closer and closer and unfortunately we touched going in to the hairpin,” said Priaulx.

“He went defensive, I went left, he just opened the corner a little bit and touched me but really I shouldn’t have been there to be honest, it was the last lap, I should’ve settled for fifth. I got ambitious and went for fourth and f**ked my race and f**ked Rob’s race, and I take full responsibility for that.

“I tried putting him under pressure to get the right line up the hill, I could’ve been a hero but I ended up a zero and it’s the first time I’ve ever done that with a team-mate, I’ve apologised to Rob and he’s okay with it and I’m just really sorry for the team because we had a fourth and fifth and I f**ked it all up.”

“I was clearly hit from the rear, there was nothing I could do. Andy has apologised,” said Collard.

“I’d been battling with [Andrew] Jordan and had worked the tyres quite hard trying to put a move on him. With half a lap to go I just thought we were going to cruise it home.

“I didn’t expect Andy to be putting big overtaking manoeuvres on me. I think he must have missed his braking point because it’s uncharacteristic for him to make a mistake like that.

“I’ve done nothing wrong, it’s just tragic. To me that’s ruined a fabulous result for the team, a four-five-seven which would have put us up the reverse grid for race three.

“I think the implications for Andy are bad, to be honest. He’s the professional driver and shouldn’t be making those kind of mistakes.”

Collard said he wouldn’t be taking the issue up with the stewards, and he hoped they wouldn’t investigate it. “I won’t be complaining about it,” he added.