Collard completes Toyota Gazoo Racing UK line-up
Toyota Gazoo Racing UK have completed their driver line-up for the 2022 British Touring Car Championship, signing Ricky Collard to drive a Corolla alongside established team pilot Rory Butcher.
Collard, 25, from Surrey, made his debut in the series in 2018, deputising for his injured father, Rob, a long-time championship contender. In 11 starts he finished in the points on six occasions, including a podium finish from second on the grid at Silverstone.
Since his eye-catching BTCC cameo, Collard has primarily competed in GT racing. In 2019 he contested a full season in the Blancpain GT World Challenge, taking victory at the Nurburgring in an Aston Martin Vantage in the GT3 category. Having considered pausing his racing career to relocate to Australia, Collard had a change of heart after three promising test days in the Speedworks Motorsport-run Corolla GR Sport at Donington Park, Knockhill and Croft.
He said: “I have been knocking around the BTCC paddock since I was just three years old, so the series has huge personal appeal and I’ve made no secret of my desire to return. There is a lot of support and love for Toyota among BTCC fans and I can’t wait to meet everyone at Toyota UK and hopefully do them proud. The only type of car I’ve raced that I haven’t won in is a touring car, so I am pretty keen to put that statistic to bed. Despite effectively being a rookie, I’ll be disappointed if I don’t achieve that – I am targeting podiums at the very least.”
Christian Dick, Team Principal, said: “Ricky has slotted into the team seamlessly and, having grown up around the BTCC, he knows the championship inside-out. It was evident watching him as he rose that through the ranks that he is a driver of considerable talent and potential. His pace in the Corolla during the test days has been extremely encouraging and we’re confident that the combination of Ricky’s raw speed and Rory’s racecraft and experience will stand us in very good stead over the coming season.”
The 2022 season, the first in the BTCC’s new hybrid era, will get under way on 23-24 April at Donington Park, home turf for the Corolla, which is built just a few miles up the road at Toyota Manufacturing UK’s plant at Burnaston, near Derby.
ENDS
