Rob Collard took Independents Cup victory in rounds nine and ten of the British Touring Car Championship Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire today, Sunday June 22. The Hampshire twice stood on the top step of the podium, claiming maximum points in his Collard Racing Vauxhall Astra in both 25-lap races.

The first race was a tactical victory for the family team, Rob controlling his pace through the race to be able to put in quick times in the final laps, outpacing his Independents Cup rivals and finishing seventh overall.

“That race was so hard,” said Rob, “we never had an easy lap. I made a great start and out-foxed a few people at the first corner, and got underneath a few cars. I got a bit roughed up by some of the works cars – and took that as a little bit of a lesson!

“I got into a good rhythm, and sat behind most of the works cars. I showed them my nose a couple of times, but didn’t really try to go past them. I was nicely in the Independents Cup lead, then the Safety Car came out and closed everybody up.

“We felt we had the right strategy, which was to stay out and make a later tyre stop. We knew that if we had in fact stayed out for one more lap we would have led the race overall - but the team decided that was the right time to bring me in

“We had planned to be strong at the end of the race – and I was amongst the works cars in the final laps. That race was what Touring Cars were all about – the cars got a few scratches, but no major damage, you can’t ask for better.”

Rob may have felt that he couldn’t ask for better, but that is what he got, not only taking a second Independents win, but also finishing a superb fifth overall, highest finishing position for an Independents car this season. A highlight for Rob and his team was when he took his six-year-old son Ricky up the BTCC podium with him.

“To take two wins is fantastic,” said an exultant Rob, “ this has to be one of the best days in my entire career. We needed to put some confidence back in the team, and this has done that. We are now right up there in the championship

“The car was good, though I had an electrical fault in the final two laps, lost my dashboard, and couldn’t tell what gear I was in. Other than that, the Astra has run faultlessly all day – for which I can only thank the team.

“I always have my family at race meetings with me, so to have my son up on the podium with me was something special.”