BTCC Jul 13, 2026 2:20 PM Source: BTCC Official

7-Eleven: Ricky Collard

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We turn to Ricky Collard for the next driver in our 7-Eleven series as the Team VERTU star has taken a podium at every event so far this season. The 84-time starter has stood on the podium five times in the first 12 races on his return to the BTCC, more than every driver bar championship leader Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK) and title rival Tom Ingram (Team VERTU), yet the outright win has eluded him. Here's how he's built one of the most consistent campaigns of the season so far.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Donington Park</strong></p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Collard's first podium of the year came in the reverse-grid finale. Lining up in pole position, the  #11 made a good start but had to withstand early pressure from Charles Rainford (WSR), who dived inside at the Old Hairpin to briefly take the lead before Collard reclaimed it through the Craner Curves a lap later. After leading Sutton and Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK) for several laps, the four-time champion found a way past on lap nine as his teammate and Ingram also found a way through by lap 13. Collard held on for third at the flag as Cammish had a ten-second time penalty for exceeding track limits applied to his race time, his first podium since returning to the championship and only the third of his BTCC career.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Brands Hatch Indy</strong></p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Collard was Sutton's closest challenger throughout the opening race of the weekend, spending long spells locked in a fight for the lead and briefly moving ahead during a thrilling mid-race sequence. The #11 ultimately had to settle for second at the flag, his best BTCC result to date.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Hyundai i30N driver was back on the rostrum in worsening conditions in Race 2, briefly leading after a bold move on Sutton as the rain intensified, before Árón Taylor-Smith (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) charged through the pack to snatch a remarkable maiden win. Collard crossed the line third when the race was red-flagged after Sutton made his way back through, resulting in a third podium in four rounds.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Snetterton </strong></p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Collard's podium run continued at Snetterton in the second race on Sunday after starting from eighth, where he was promoted into the fight after Ingram retired from the lead with an alternator failure. The Frimley-born driver had already been making ground of his own, pulling off a superb move around the outside of Cammish into Brundle to move up to second, before Tom Chilton completed a Team VERTU two-three behind Sutton. Collard crossed the line 1.009 seconds behind the winner, his fourth podium of the campaign.</p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Oulton Park</strong></p>

<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The weekend finale brought Collard's closest attempt yet at an elusive maiden win. Starting fifth on soft tyres directly behind Rainford in third, the pair made their way to the front by lap five as Rainford swept around the outside of Chris Smiley (Restart Racing) at Cascades, with Collard following through at Lodge to seize second. The #11 held Rainford honest, but the WSR driver held firm to take the win by 1.319 seconds. Collard's second-place finish made it a podium at every event so far in 2026, his fifth of the campaign.</p>

7-Eleven: Ricky Collard

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