Rob Collard and the other British Touring Car Championship racers head into new territory this weekend with the series making its first ever visit to the Rockingham circuit in Northants. Rob, from Eversley in Hampshire, has never raced at the track before, which will present the BTCC with a unique challenge as they use a circuit layout that is part conventional circuit, part banked oval track, but is confident he can go well in his Collard Racing Astra.

"I've been to Rockingham as a spectator, but never raced there before," says Rob. "It will be a bit like our season last year when I was racing in Europe. All the tracks there were new to me and you just had a 40-minute session to learn them. This weekend we have two and a half hours on Friday and the usual Free Practice on Saturday, so we should be ok.

"I'm looking forward to it as a new challenge. We have sorted all the little technical gremlins we had on the car at Silverstone, and I'm looking forward to a trouble-free weekend for a change.

"I'm aiming for two Independent's Cup wins, and I'd like to finish well up in the top ten overall. We were running in the top six at the start of the season, and now we have to re-establish ourselves and this weekend is the perfect opportunity. As far as I know only one team has tested at Rockingham, so we are in with a chance.

"I can't wait for the weekend, it's good to be going somewhere new, and the racing should be good."

Rob and his close-knit team are contesting the Independent's Cup, with Rob the true privateer of the series as the only driver owning his own Touring Car. Currently third in the points table, two strong results at Rockingham will put him right into title contention.

Rounds nine and ten of the 2003 BTCC take place at Rockingham on Sunday June 22nd.