Ricky Collard will return to the British Touring Car Championship for the Brands Hatch season finale, returning to race the Hyundai i30 N which had been campaigned by Osamu Kawashima at Silverstone.

Collard took part in the opening eight events of the 2026 season, enjoying his strongest run in the championship to-date by collecting seven podium finishes to sign off his part-season in fourth overall in the drivers’ standings after Croft.

However, Team VERTU had already signed Japanese racer Kawashima for the final two events, forcing Collard to step aside prior to Silverstone.

It was evident at Silverstone that Kawashima was some way off the pace, finishing last in the two races he contested on Sunday and being lapped before the mid-distance of the race.

The team has therefore elected to reinstate reserve driver Collard, who has now fallen to tenth in the standings after missing Silverstone, for the season finale.

Team VERTU reflected that “while tests prior to Silverstone were successful in demonstrating the necessary performance, it was evident following the race meeting at Silverstone that Kawashima would benefit from additional time in the car to fully realise his potential.

“As a result, and given the unique challenges of the Brands Hatch GP layout, the decision has been taken to instead focus on providing Kawashima with additional track time away from the pressures of a race weekend.”

Collard’s deal for the 2026 season was signed at the last-minute, with an option to extend to the full season or until the Croft meeting.

When the deadline passed, the team signed Kawashima for the final two events, whilst in the meantime Collard was able to secure the necessary budget but the contracts had already been reportedly signed.

Collard, who was supposed to be present at Silverstone in a driver coaching role but ultimately left the circuit in frustration at seeing his car lap so far off the pace, acknowledged the ‘emotional’ situation.

“Silverstone was a situation where emotions were running high and things were said in the heat of the moment, but the focus now is on looking ahead to the finale and ending the season on a high,” said Collard, who currently holds the unwanted record for the most podium finishes in the BTCC without a victory.

“I’m grateful to have the chance to get back behind the wheel of the Hyundai this weekend, especially around such an iconic circuit as Brands Hatch GP, and hopefully we can have another strong weekend and build on the results we have gained already this season.

“Seven podiums has been a fantastic return and the only thing missing to complete the set is to make it onto the top step.

“If we could do that, it would be an amazing way to end the year, not least as I am working with the team to try and make a return to the seat possible for 2027.”