Collard targets title on WSR return

Sun 21st March 2010 Rob Collard is back with West Surrey Racing for the 2010 BTCC season - and has his sights firmly set on fighting for a maiden overall title.

By Matt Salisbury

Many people had him confirmed as part of the Motorbase line-up for a third successive season in 2010, but instead Rob Collard returns to former team West Surrey Racing for the new BTCC campaign – with his sights firmly set on the title.

Collard spent two seasons with Dick Bennetts' squad in 2005 and 2006, securing his maiden victory during his first year with the team. Having missed most of the 2007 campaign – aside from a one-off entry with GR Asia into the season finale at Thruxton, Collard returned full-time in 2008 and spent two seasons with Motorbase, winning twice last year en-route to sixth in the championship standings.

Having now inked a deal to drive for the defending champions, Collard is looking to fight for overall honours this season to add to the Independents' crown he took back in 2003, and took time out from testing at Oulton Park for a quick chat...

Q:
You’re back with West Surrey Racing for 2010 – how excited are you by the move?

Rob Collard:
I'm very excited. It was a very last minute deal. I’m extremely pleased with what I have achieved with Motorbase over the last two seasons, but you have to look forwards to where the next two years will be and WSR have given me a fantastic opportunity for the next two years. It was a tough decision I had to make to kind of let the guys down at Motorbase, but I am pleased to rejoin WSR for the next two years.

Q:
So it’s a multi-year deal you have agreed then?

Rob Collard:
Yes.

Q:
How has your testing gone so far?

Rob Collard:
We tested at Rockingham last week but it was very cold and damp so we didn't get a lot of good laps in. The conditions didn’t really suit the BMW. Yesterday and today we have done some good running and we are pleased so far.

Q:
How do you think you are shaping up for the year ahead?

Rob Collard:
I'd like to think we can start as a serious front-runner. That is where I want to be and where I have worked hard to get to over the past four or five years. We had a bit of set-back for a few years but I feel I was back where I should be last year and hopefully I can build on that with WSR.

Q:
The car you are running at Oulton has the #1 on it. I guess the ultimate aim is to make sure it’s there again at the end of the season...

Rob Collard:
Absolutely. It's every drivers dream to win the championship and I have won the Independents' Cup in the past. I am working towards it and as long as I can do better than last year and win more races, the aim has to be the top three.

Q:
Andy [Neate] has had a difficult 18 months or so, but returns to racing this season as your team-mate. How have you found working with him so far?

Rob Collard:
He is a lovely guy and we are getting on really well. If I can help him as much as possible then I will do.