Rounds 1 & 2, Mondello Park 2003

Collard takes lead in Independant's Cup - page 1

On race day tension was high, the team for the first time had to deal with pit stops in both races, using only two guns, this means that the team has to first change the fronts, then change the backs, if Rob were to get to the front, would the pit stop ruin all the hard work? Luckily, things didnt turn out that way.

As he sat on the grid, on slicks like everyone else, the team looked nervously to the sky as the first few drops of rain landed on the tarmac, but it was too late now.

As the race started the teams fought for position on the slippery track, some gambling on taking an extra pit stop for wets, not something CollardRacing could afford to do with only enough equipment to change two tyres at a time. One after the other they skated off the track and into the gravel. The CollardRacing team got the tyres ready, should Rob come in early? The Team Manager Paul Ridgeway knew Rob could handle the conditions and the car stayed out until after lap 10, the pit stop window. The first tyre change was quick, and Rob didnt lose any ground to Pyper who pitted at the same time.

The safety car came out to bunch up the field again, Rob was racing well around 7th position. Race conditions were more than difficult, yet again the safety car came out while gravel traps were cleared of cars that littered the track. Then two more front runners collided in the pit lane, O'Neill and Bennett. Then Neal and Pyper were off, leaving Rob clear to take the Independants win, and delighted to take 6th overall in the first round.

Under the new race rules, 6th place in the first, puts him in 6th position on the grid for the second race. Rob knew starting with the front runners in his 2002 Astra would be hard, but as they went into the first bend, Rob held his own as the other Astra's, Honda's and MG's all jostled for position around him. Rob has contact from another car which puts him back a few positions, but he fought back to challenge Pyper, overtaking him towards the end of the race only to go wide allowing Pyper through at the last.

Rob is happy with his result of 2nd, putting him 1st overall in the Independants Cup, securing him a prize of 14 tyres from Dunlop as well as Championship and Team points. CollardRacing is currently running 6th overall in the Championship, 1st in the Independants Cup and the CollardRacing team as a whole is third behind Vauxhall and Honda holding off MG by a championship point.

On Friday 25th April Rob tested along with the other teams at Thruxton, finishing a full 2 seconds ahead of everyone else. He is looking forward to the next race at Brands in May.