Staff VERTU have introduced that Ricky Collard will pilot the Hyundai at Manufacturers Hatch, changing British Touring Automotive Championship debutant Osamu Kawashima after one spherical.
Certainly one of the sagas of the 2026 marketing campaign has thrown one last twist heading into the ultimate hours, as Ricky Collard will return to the Hyundai i30N Fastback on the season-closing tour of Manufacturers Hatch’s GP loop.
With even his deal firstly of the season being a late transfer, Collard would discover an extension to the unique five-race run to race by way of to its expiry forward of the Silverstone Nationwide spherical.
Ready within the wings was Kawashima, with the 57-year-old set to grasp his ‘dream‘ of competing within the BTCC.
Nevertheless, Silverstone proved tough for the BTCC’s first Japanese driver since 1985.
An expectedly off-pace Saturday was ended by a spin into the gravel within the Race to Pole as Kawashima tried to adapt to the equipment, whereas engine points curtailed a Sunday that would have powered him to his one-point goal.
“Whereas exams previous to Silverstone have been profitable in demonstrating the required efficiency, it was evident following the race assembly at Silverstone that Kawashima would profit from extra time within the automobile to totally realise his potential,” a Staff VERTU assertion learn.
“Consequently, and given the distinctive challenges of the Manufacturers Hatch GP structure, the choice has been taken to as a substitute give attention to offering Kawashima with extra monitor time away from the pressures of a race weekend.”
Such pressures might have even been exaggerated by Collard himself, with an Instagram story posted after Silverstone’s Free Observe barbing at Kawashima and his crew.
Nevertheless, Collard’s return does enable him to proceed his most profitable season so far, regardless of dropping to P10 within the Drivers’ Championship because of lacking a spherical.
“Silverstone was a scenario the place feelings have been operating excessive and issues have been mentioned within the warmth of the second, however the focus now could be on waiting for the finale and ending the season on a excessive,” Collard mentioned.
“I’m grateful to have the possibility to get again behind the wheel of the Hyundai this weekend, particularly round such an iconic circuit as Manufacturers Hatch GP, and hopefully we will have one other sturdy weekend and construct on the outcomes we’ve got gained already this season.
“Seven podiums has been a improbable return and the one factor lacking to finish the set is to make it onto the highest step. If we might try this, it will be a tremendous strategy to finish the yr, not least as I’m working with the crew to try to make a return to the seat doable for 2027.”
READ MORE: Ricky Collard takes jab at Staff VERTU and Osamu Kawashima
