BTCC: Ricky Collard to return to BTCC with Team Vertu Hyundai in 2026

British GT champion Ricky Collard will return to the BTCC for 2026 with Team Vertu Hyundai completing lineup.

Collard is a third generation racer, who started his car racing career in Formula Ford in 2014 after karting. He would then race in British F4 in 2015 finishing runner-up to reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris. He would then racing in British F3 (now known as GB3) the following year finishing runner-up again that season.

Collard would make the switch to GT's, he would take race wins in ADAC GT Masters and the Blancpain GT Championship before making his debut in the BTCC. He would join Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2022, where he would score seven top ten finishes and a best finish of fourth.

He would remain with the team for 2023 where his results would be even better. Taking eighth in the championship standings, he would score points in all but one race he was classified scoring his first BTCC podium at Knockhill.

He would switch to British GT in 2024 to race alongside his dad, Rob Collard, in the GT3 series where they became the second father-son team to claim a British GT Championship and also claimed Rob's second British GT title. Last year, Ricky would race in GT World Challenge Europe for a couple of rounds later in the year.

He now rejoins the BTCC with Hyundai and Team Vertu completing their lineup alongside Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton, and Nic Hamilton. He will be joining them in testing today ahead of the start of the 2026 BTCC season.

With the announcement, Ricky Collard said: “I’m delighted to be returning to the BTCC this season as it’s a championship where I feel I’ve got unfinished business. Back in 2023, I picked up some strong results and showed I have the pace to run towards the front of the field, but I missed out on getting the win that I know I’m capable of.

“Winning the British GT title in what was a particularly competitive season allowed me to learn a huge amount, and I feel that I’m coming back into touring cars as a stronger driver and in better shape than ever.

“The opportunity to join forces with the defending champions is one that I had to take, and although this deal has all come together quite late and I won’t have much track time before round one, I’m feeling confident.

“The Hyundai is clearly a very strong package and with the support of Team VERTU behind me, I’m hoping to hit the ground running when we get to Donington Park."

Justina Williams, Team Owner of Team Vertu, added: “We’ve spoken to a number of drivers over the winter but when the chance arose to bring Ricky into the line-up, it was a deal we were really keen to do.

“He brings a huge amount of experience competing in a wide range of different championships and won the British GT title in impressive fashion a couple of years ago.

“Having shown he has the pace to fight for podium finishes in the past in the BTCC, we are confident he will be a strong addition to our line-up, and I see no reason why he can’t look to be right up there fighting towards the front during the season ahead.”