Rob Collard is aiming to continue his run of consistent form in the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton, with the BMW driver having been the only driver to finish in the points in every race this season so far.
Collard has kept himself well within title contention with a run of strong consistency in 2017, picking up 14 top ten finishes out of 15 races and scoring points in every single race so far.
The BMW driver has also secured one win and five podiums and headed into the mid-season break just 11 points behind championship leader Gordon Shedden.
“The Summer break has been far too long,” said Collard. “I’m raring to get back into the BMW and continue my challenge for the championship.
“The first half of the season has gone superbly; I’ve been on the podium at every event and am the only driver to finish in the points in every race.”
Collard’s previous form at the Norfolk circuit has seen him pick up just three podium finishes there in the past, although the 2016 season proved to be one of the best outings at Snetterton for Collard as he demonstrated overtaking capability and ended the weekend with a second place finish.
“I’m second in the Drivers’ Championship, which is exactly where I was this time last year,” continued Collard, “but I’m 21 points better off, which shows the continuing improvements of the Team BMW 125i M Sport and my driving.
“That level of consistency is what wins championships and the aim is certainly to continue that form at Snetterton.”
WSR team Principal Dick Bennetts is optimistic heading into the weekend, despite the fact that Collard and team-mate Colin Turkington, who is third overall in the standings, must carry 66 kg and 57 kg of success ballast respectively.
“We’ve had a strong season so far and head the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championships through maximising our performances when we needed to, rather than by having the out-and-out fastest car,” said Bennetts.
“Now we come to Snetterton, which has been a good circuit for the BMW since the layout was changed in 2011.
“Rob and Colin are second and third in the Drivers’ Championship, which means both are heavy ballast-wise, but this is nothing unusual when you’re fighting for titles and we’ll use the information gathered in testing here a few weeks ago to help us this weekend.”