DONINGTON PARK - ROUND 6 - RACE REPORT

Rounds 16, 17 & 18 of the 2006 British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park
July 29/30, 2006

Collard demolished at Donington

Rob endured another tough raceday for round 16, 17 and 18 of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park.

It was a weekend that promised much but delivered little as bad luck and hard hits combined to thwart Rob's efforts in the Team RAC MG ZS. Saturday's free practice sessions showed signs of good things to come, with Rob second and fifth in the two sessions.

Qualifying was always going to be hard with a six-place grid penalty to add on to his best lap. So sixth became 12th on the grid for race one.

Rob quickly gained places, showing the pace of the Team RAC contender. A solid showing saw Rob finish ninth, which was where he would start race two.

A quick start to the second race of the day put Rob up to fourth position before the safety car came out on lap two. When the racing got going again, Rob challenged reigning champion Matt Neal for third.

Eight time around, Neal hit Rob's MG going down through the Craner Curves. It was a heavy impact that looked set to see Rob retire. He was able to limp on for a couple of laps, before pitting briefly. There was a small consolation as he returned to the track to set the fastest lap of the race.

Race three was a short one for Rob. An unfortunate startline incident saw Rob speared into the barrier by an out of control SEAT just metres into the race. It brought an untimely close to a disappointing weekend.

"We were really looking forward to this weekend", said Rob. "After being on the podium here last year and then in free practice and even qualifying, we were thinking, ok, get race one out of the way and then it'll come good."

"Race one was a little bit hectic, but we held our own and finished eighth. That wasn't too bad and then in race two, it really went well. It opened up nicely in the first couple of laps. I was very pleased to get past Jason and then I thought things were looking really good."

"I sat behind Matt and then I got past him at Redgate. Then, going down into the Craner Curves, he just seemed to whack me in the side. I deliberately gave him lots of room… There are some drivers you can race side by side with, and I always thought Matt was one of them. I guess I should have expected it after Croft. I didn't think he would do it again, but he did. I'm disappointed that he hit me so hard."

"It ruined my whole weekend. It didn't affect us too much with damage in race two, but then for race three, we were at the back of the grid and that's where the accidents are going to be. And sure enough, within metres of the start there was a crash. I just got hit from the rear and it turned me into the wall. There was nothing I could do."

Rob will be hoping for a change in his fortunes at the next meeting of the 2006 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship over the weekend of 12/13 August at Snetterton.