In his first weekend out of Group VERTU’s British Touring Automotive Championship Hyundai, Ricky Collard has poked at Osamu Kawashima’s driving on Instagram.
Collard’s finances struggles had been on the forefront of BTCC protection all through the 2026 season, with it predicted pre-season that he would solely make it to the midway level.
This was eclipsed throughout the marketing campaign, with an extension to his Group VERTU deal taking him by to the Croft weekend.
In the course of the season, Group VERTU appointed 57-year-old Kawashima as reserve driver, later confirming that he would drive the Silverstone and Manufacturers Hatch GP rounds.
Whereas it was simply thought that the transfer can be a substitute for Collard, it was formally confirmed in September as Kawashima underwent assessments to organize for his BTCC debut.
Being noticed testing the Hyundai i30N Fastback at Snetterton, it was Kawashima’s first style of tin-top equipment in 10 years.
The Japanese driver had tasted a Speedworks Toyota Avensis throughout a one-day take a look at in 2016, having completed runner-up within the Ginetta GT4 novice class the 12 months earlier than.
Being the primary Japanese driver within the BTCC since Kunimitsu Takahashi in 1985, Kawashima has spoken overtly about this chance being the end result of a dream.
“I’m vastly excited to have the chance to turn out to be the primary Japanese driver to race within the BTCC within the trendy period and want to specific my gratitude to everybody at EXCELR8 for making it potential and for supporting me throughout testing,” Kawashima mentioned.
“Once I beforehand raced within the UK in Ginettas, I set myself the aim of in the future competing within the BTCC. It’s taken longer than I hoped, however all the things has fallen into place and my dream is now lastly coming true.”
Nonetheless, an off-the-pace Free Follow at Silverstone has left Collard less-than-impressed together with his peer.
The previous British GT Drivers’ Champion took to Instagram to share a narrative posted by one other fan that described Group VERTU’s transfer to interchange him as casting apart podiums, factors, and thrilling races, earlier than posting: “Off to help my household race not watch my automobile be pushed spherical in final place 3 seconds off the tempo.”
