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Rob Collard ‘disgusted’ with move by Gordon Shedden in race three

Rob Collard slammed Gordon Shedden for contact in the third British Touring Car Championship race at Knockhill, claiming that the Honda driver was ‘playing dirty tricks’ in the race.

Collard worked his way up to second by lap 16, from seventh on the grid, in the final race before losing out in two separate incidents.

Shortly after gaining second, Shedden repassed the BMW driver further around the lap with a late lunge into Clark Curve. The move saw Collard forced through the gravel on the exit of the corner  and down to fourth.

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Then after the second safety car intervention Collard made an unforced error of his own at the chicane, making another trip through the gravel before joining in 11th.

“I feel very bitter about what Gordon did,” said Collard to TouringCars.Net. “I put a lovely clean move on Gordon, caught him and overtook him, and then going into Clark corner he launched the car up the inside.

“There was absolutely no way that move was on without making contact and then as we came out of the corner he continued to bulldoze me off the circuit.

“This is not touring car racing – at this level drivers should not be doing that and I think it’s absolutely disgusting what he did.

“I’m very, very annoyed that in two out of three meetings I’ve been pushed off – by Matt Neal at Croft and then here by Gordon. Honda are playing very dirty tricks.”

Collard was left disappointed in himself after throwing the car off the circuit at the end of the race, meaning he leaves Knockhill 17 points adrift of points leader and team-mate Colin Turkington.

“Right at the very end, I just made a mistake going through the chicane. I hit the kerb a bit too hard and I have to take 100% responsibility as it’s my mistake.

“I feel like I missed an opportunity today. We needed to maximise our points here as we know it’s a strong track [for BMW].

“I’m very disappointed in myself to make that mistake – it’s a very uncharacteristic mistake for me. I’ve been through that chicane a million times and I just clipped the kerb a bit too hard and it just pushed me through.

“Because it was after a safety car restart the whole train came through and I lose seven or eight places. I’m gutted for myself and the team.”

Collard was also frustrated that neither he nor team-mate Turkington could offer any fight to the twice-victorious Subarus in the first two races of the day.

“I feel that West Surrey Racing as a team have had the maximum out of the cars this weekend – there’s absolutely nothing left in the toolbox to find to put on that car.

“Colin and I both got out of the car in race one and two dripping in sweat – we drove our hearts out trying to hunt the Subarus down and there was just no way possible.

“They just sat at the front very calmly, swapped places to lead a lap, and they’re playing with the rest of the pack at the moment as they’ve got such an advantage.”

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