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Collard completes WSR line-up for BTCC 2017
Rob Collard will remain with West Surrey Racing for the 2017 BTCC season after agreeing terms to a deal to race with the BMW team for a 10th season.
Edited: Feb 20, 2017, 12:19 PM
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The 48-year-old enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career to date last year, finishing fifth in the championship standings, just 30 points away from eventual champion Gordon Shedden.
Collard joins Colin Turkington and Andrew Jordan in a new-look WSR line-up this year, with past teammates Sam Tordoff and Jack Goff having moved on to the British GT Championship and to Eurotech Racing respectively.
Having been keen to remain with Dick Bennetts’ team, the Hampshire racer will now get to sample the revised BMW 125i M Sport for the first time in Spain next week – with WSR being one of a number of teams heading to the continent in search of more favourable testing conditions.
“It’s fantastic to be staying with WSR,” Collard said. “They have a pedigree like no other team in the BTCC and the level of professionalism and preparation that has been key to their success is clear to see in everything they do.
“This will be my tenth season with the team and I plan to use that continuity to my advantage. I took my first BTCC win and my first podium with WSR and now my aim is to take my first title with them too.
"With Colin and Andrew as my teammates, I think we have the strongest line-up in the championship and I can’t wait to start testing the latest development of the BMW later this month.”
Team boss Bennetts was also pleased to keep Collard on board for 2017, insisting there was no reason why he couldn’t launch a bid for the championship crown.
“We’re very pleased to continue our partnership with Rob, who has raced with WSR for the past seven seasons – including the entire BMW 125i M Sport programme,” he said.
“He’s very much part of the family here, is one of the best drivers in the BTCC for pure racing ability and played a pivotal role in WSR’s constructors’ and teams’ title successes in 2016. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be a title contender again.”
Collard’s deal with WSR means just one seat – with Team BMR – remains on the grid for the season ahead.
Neil Hudson / TouringCarTimes
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