![Ricky Collard, Toyota Gazoo Racing UK [Speedworks Motorsport], Toyota Corolla GR Sport](https://www.touringcars.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/RickyCollard-1.jpg "Photo: Pat Cranham")
Ricky Collard admits that he has more to learn, as he continued to adapt to front-wheel drive racing on his first outing for Toyota Gazoo Racing UK in the British Touring Car Championship at Donington Park.
Collard, 25, returned to the BTCC in 2022 after a three-year absence, having originally made his début as a stand-in for father Rob in 2018.
Getting to grips with the Toyota Corolla on Saturday, in his first competitive outing in front-wheel drive machinery, Collard was an impressive second fastest in the second practice session.
In qualifying he continued his encouraging form, qualifying just over half a second from pole in 11th place as the leading Toyota after issues for team-mate Rory Butcher.
Collard’s first race for the team didn’t last long, however, as he suffered a driveshaft failure on the second lap of the opening encounter – the team’s second of the weekend – ending his race early.
From the back of the grid for race two, Collard made up six places on the first lap and by lap four was on the edge of the points. However, he then retired on lap eight after making contact with a rival and damaging the front of his car.
Once again starting near the rear in race three, Collard enjoyed a more consistent race and made up nine places by the chequered flag.
The Frimley racer admitted afterwards that it had been a challenging weekend for him, adapting to the cut-and-thrust of touring car racing as well as the handling of a front-wheel drive car.
“That was a weekend that promised so much, but ultimately didn’t deliver,” said Collard. “Having never raced a front wheel-drive car in my life – let alone a front wheel-drive touring car – and with not much prior testing, I struggled a little bit initially to gauge how much speed to carry into the corners.
“Not only that, but the last time I had driven at Donington Park was in Formula 3, which is a very different kind of beast, so I genuinely never expected to be so quick in free practice. I was aiming for that kind of pace by the end of the season, not the start!
“The Corolla is a brilliant car, and I’ve been slowly getting the hang of it, with no pressure from the team. I kept plugging away, finding a little bit more and learning a little bit more with every run.
“In race one, I was just settling into my rhythm and got a good exit from the chicane going onto lap two, but unfortunately that was all she wrote. The driveshaft failure was sheer bad luck and completely out of our control.
“That obviously meant we didn’t begin race two where we’d been hoping to and we had to fight through the field again in race three, when it was good to finally get a full race distance under my belt.
“My racecraft was a little bit rusty, but the pace is there and at the end of the day, I’d rather be in this kind of position and able to attack instead of lucking into results.
“I’m still adapting to front wheel-drive and there’s a lot more I need to learn, but we will build upon this and I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch. I wish it was starting tomorrow!”