Ricky Collard has admitted that his future in the British Touring Car Championship is not looking good, with the Team VERTU man scrambling for funding.
The 2024 British GT Champion currently only has a funded seat through the Thruxton rounds in July, despite sitting P5 in the Drivers’ Championship.
Collard’s 2026 campaign is his third stint in the tin-top series, being his best with five podiums through the first 12 races. Only Ash Sutton and Tom Ingram have finished in the top three more prior to the summer break.
As a result, any departure would be one of British motorsport’s great shames, but one that is likely to happen.
“It was a bit of a bittersweet inlap then because I’ve only got one more race to go, if we can get to it,” Collard told BTCC media.
“I [came] on the radio and said to the guys that it’s been an absolute privilege and a pleasure to drive for VERTU and EXCELR8.
“We’ve got some more partners on board but I just really hope that we can bring in the sponsorship because it’d be such a shame. I don’t know where I am in the championship but we’re in the mix, we’re there or thereabouts and every weekend I improve.
“So realistically I want to obviously do everything I can to stay in the seat, but at the moment it’s not looking good unfortunately.”
Highlighting his despair, Collard later added: “It’s pretty sad that it’s going to end and I just hope that we can do everything we can to stay in the seat.”
Should Collard be unable to secure the funding for his seat, Team VERTU may look to Osamu Kawashima.
The little-known Japanese veteran was named the squad’s reserve driver at the end of May, and has publicly stated that he will race in the BTCC in 2026.
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