Rob Collard

[EliteRacer]

What do you guys think of Rob Collard ? I'm always at the races and have been so for a fair few years. Is it me or is Rob Collard a complete liability. It's really bad but when ever he is within a car length of a another driver an accident tends to happen.

Brands Hatch

Race 1 12th
Race 2 DNF
Race 3 11th

Rockingham

Race 1 13th
Race 2 12th
Race 3 8th

Donington Park

Race 1 DNF
Race 2 DNS
Race 3 DNS

[Alfa Fan]

All I'll say is Collard's performance this year has vindicated my previous opinion of him, and my pre-season disappointment at Collard getting the drive has only been reinforced. (See comments here http://btccpages.motorsportforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119931&page=26 )

He's simply not good enough. There's a number of much better drivers that should be in that car instead. The only way his drive is remotely justified is if he's paying for all of it.

[BDunnell]

I honestly don't like criticising drivers, but I'm afraid I can't help wondering how others would be doing in that BMW. For instance, Chris Stockton, who has turned in some excellent performances in a poor rear-wheel-drive car and clearly revels in cars of that configuration (though he doesn't seem too shabby in a front-driver either). That said, there's plenty of time for Collard to get some results.

[tyreman2]

I honestly don't like criticising drivers, but I'm afraid I can't help wondering how others would be doing in that BMW. For instance, Chris Stockton, who has turned in some excellent performances in a poor rear-wheel-drive car and clearly revels in cars of that configuration (though he doesn't seem too shabby in a front-driver either). That said, there's plenty of time for Collard to get some results.

If you think Rob gets involved in to many crashes,(and i don't disagree) then the same must be said of Stockton.In fact at Donnington he clearly pushed Rob off at the old hairpin.
And Alfa fan it is a sorry (but necessary)fact that many of the drivers are there because they have the funds and not the talent.

[cpearson]

YAWN....I'm tired of hearing rob being slagged off on forums. He's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and of the more popular drivers in the paddock.

I notice there is no mention of the fact he was pushed off at brands and rockingham unnessisarily plus the clear incident at Donington so those results posted above could and would have been better. I'm sure if it had been the other way around you would all be bleeting about it.

I'm a friend and a big fan of Rob so naturally I'm a tad biased but I do accept there have been incidents in the past where he has had to accept blame or partial blame but it's part and parcel of touring car racing.

He's no more aggressive than a lot of other drivers on the grid but seems an easy target for some.

Just my 2p worth.

[Les]

totally agree with you cpearson. Rob has been aggressive in previous years but I've not seen any of that this year. He seems to be getting on top of the car but BMW and Donington just didn't work.
As for all this Chris Stockton turning out excellent performances - where, when? I have not seen anything that would change my opinion of him yet this year.

[SEATFreak]

He's no more aggressive than a lot of other drivers on the grid but seems an easy target for some.

The times I have said "I agree" is astonishingly low. Evidence perhaps of the number of times where I have actually agreed with someones point of view. And when I have said it, it was only to keep people from my back. But I do sincerely agree with you there cpearson.

Not that I am able to see much anyway, and not that I am privelaged to know the driving style of each driver, unlike the members who have posted on this topic before me, but watching from the vantage point of my armchair or on one of the embankments overlooking Clervaux and Hawthorn at Croft, I don't see anything vastly different in the way he drives to that of others. I atleast hope he brakes, changes gear and turns the wheel in the same areas as others.

Not as many times as Jase' clearly but still; he does seem to be a particular target for critisicm.

[wedge]

YAWN....I'm tired of hearing rob being slagged off on forums. He's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and of the more popular drivers in the paddock.

I notice there is no mention of the fact he was pushed off at brands and rockingham unnessisarily plus the clear incident at Donington so those results posted above could and would have been better. I'm sure if it had been the other way around you would all be bleeting about it.

I'm a friend and a big fan of Rob so naturally I'm a tad biased but I do accept there have been incidents in the past where he has had to accept blame or partial blame but it's part and parcel of touring car racing.

He's no more aggressive than a lot of other drivers on the grid but seems an easy target for some.

Just my 2p worth.

Who care's if he's nice bloke? You don't get bonus points for personality! It's performances on the track that count.

Rob brought that reputation on himself and you can see why he has the criticism and scepticism.

I've kept an open mind this year and he's done a decent job and this time around he's had rotten luck, especially at the Rock.

[SEATFreak]

Rob brought that reputation on himself and you can see why he has the criticism and scepticism.

Thing is, I find if you can justify the basis of the reason, you justify the criticism.

It seems many criticisms made are based on observations that have been made. But I do not yet even know the method used for the observation that people made. For all I know it could all be made up BS. In all likelyhood it is.

Because let's face it; hand up who is able to see a drivers technique from outside the confines of the car and many yards away.

How do people do it? How do people spot every little error from so far away?

[nik]

As for all this Chris Stockton turning out excellent performances - where, when? I have not seen anything that would change my opinion of him yet this year.


Were you watching with your eyes closed last year then?

[BDunnell]

It seems many criticisms made are based on observations that have been made. But I do not yet even know the method used for the observation that people made.

Er... eyes?



Because let's face it; hand up who is able to see a drivers technique from outside the confines of the car and many yards away.

How do people do it? How do people spot every little error from so far away?

I don't think this is the point. I would merely go along with the view expressed by Tim Harvey commentating on the Knockhill races in 2006: 'Collard's not someone you go side-by-side with, is he?'

[wedge]

Thing is, I find if you can justify the basis of the reason, you justify the criticism.

It seems many criticisms made are based on observations that have been made. But I do not yet even know the method used for the observation that people made. For all I know it could all be made up BS.

It's not as if he's been involved in 50-50 incidents in 2006:

Punted off Matt Neal into Paddock Hill Bend

Caused a pile-up in Knockhill

[SEATFreak]

Er... eyes?'

LMFAO! :rotflmao:

Is that what the two round things in your head are for then? I was wondering what possible use they had. :laugh:

Sometimes you say things so entertaining! :)

I know the job of the eyes is to see. I didn't know it was the job of the eyes to process some kind of informed judgement about what the eyes see aswell. :p :

[SEATFreak]

It's not as if he's been involved in 50-50 incidents in 2006:

Punted off Matt Neal into Paddock Hill Bend

Caused a pile-up in Knockhill

And how did he act to you? What moves was he pulling?

[cpearson]

It's not as if he's been involved in 50-50 incidents in 2006:

Punted off Matt Neal into Paddock Hill Bend

Caused a pile-up in Knockhill

oh the old matt neal incident....yawn again...I'm not even going to go there!.

Anyway, everyone has their critics but Rob has a big following and we all know once he gets a bit of luck he'll justify Dave Bartrum's decision to pick him.

have a nice weekend all!

[thompp]

What do you guys think of Rob Collard ? I'm always at the races and have been so for a fair few years. Is it me or is Rob Collard a complete liability. It's really bad but when ever he is within a car length of a another driver an accident tends to happen.

Brands Hatch

Race 1 12th
Race 2 DNF
Race 3 11th

Rockingham

Race 1 13th
Race 2 12th
Race 3 8th

Donington Park

Race 1 DNF
Race 2 DNS
Race 3 DNS


These results would on average put him around 12th on the BTCC grid, which I think is about fair for him and certainly justifies his place on the grid. It looks bad because of Donington, where a race one incident totalled his car for the entire weekend - mainly bad luck.

[Ed]

yes he is a nice person and well repspected down the pit lane, but he is slow and always gets into trouble on race day. Kane a rookie has made him look stupid

[jackmarsh]

I like Rob, I think he is a top bloke, always give you the time of day to talk to, however I think he has been trying to 'over drive' the BMW this year, having been at every meeting for all the weekend so far, it seems to me as so he is having trouble adapting to the BMW. Donnington was a write off for all the BMW's in greasy conditions they don't work too well. He is a good driver, certainly a welcome addition.

People moan in the off season about having large grids, yet when people that we welcome to the series dont do particularly well we slag them off. The vauxhalls and seats and matt jackson (albeit not at Donnington) are a class above. I think yo uwill see a Seat/Vauxhall white was at Thruxton. Anyone that gets in the top 8 this year is doing really well, this is the most competitie season yet. Lets make judgement at the end of the season when all is said and done. I think Rob maybe has a few things going on outside of touring cars that maybe distressing him slightly, whereas drivers right at the forefront of the grid tend to be thinking solely about the racing.

Lets celebrate the fact that we have an awesome grid this year, and the fact that drivers results good or bad make good debates, but I really despise people who aimlessly have a pot at a driver who is willing to put a lot of his own money in doing something he clearly loves.

Enjoy the season thats the main thing.

[CroftPilgrim]

I like Rob, I think he is a top bloke, always give you the time of day to talk to, however I think he has been trying to 'over drive' the BMW this year, having been at every meeting for all the weekend so far, it seems to me as so he is having trouble adapting to the BMW. Donnington was a write off for all the BMW's in greasy conditions they don't work too well. He is a good driver, certainly a welcome addition.

People moan in the off season about having large grids, yet when people that we welcome to the series dont do particularly well we slag them off. The vauxhalls and seats and matt jackson (albeit not at Donnington) are a class above. I think yo uwill see a Seat/Vauxhall white was at Thruxton. Anyone that gets in the top 8 this year is doing really well, this is the most competitie season yet. Lets make judgement at the end of the season when all is said and done. I think Rob maybe has a few things going on outside of touring cars that maybe distressing him slightly, whereas drivers right at the forefront of the grid tend to be thinking solely about the racing.

Lets celebrate the fact that we have an awesome grid this year, and the fact that drivers results good or bad make good debates, but I really despise people who aimlessly have a pot at a driver who is willing to put a lot of his own money in doing something he clearly loves.

Enjoy the season thats the main thing.

Well said. I couldn't agree more

[BDunnell]

Anyone that gets in the top 8 this year is doing really well, this is the most competitie season yet.

Absolutely. The difficulty Mike Jordan is having in getting top 10 finishes proves this, having previously been a points contender in pretty much every race.


I really despise people who aimlessly have a pot at a driver who is willing to put a lot of his own money in doing something he clearly loves.

I don't believe that should make anyone immune from criticism, though. Plenty of people put a lot of money and effort into things in life, but don't end up doing a good job.



Enjoy the season thats the main thing.

:up:

[Hazell B]

I would merely go along with the view expressed by Tim Harvey commentating on the Knockhill races in 2006: 'Collard's not someone you go side-by-side with, is he?'

And that's exactly why Collard's often seen as a poor, even dishonest, driver in some people's eyes! If we didn't have Matt Neal, Tim Harvey and assorted others blaming poor Rob for every case of hiccups out there, we wouldn't even notice his real mistakes as anything but average.

Others commenting is why all of humankind thinks Katie Price is more stupid than any other glamour girl, Brad Pitt's prettier than all other men and Rob Collard's a dangerous person to drive near.

He makes mistakes, he sometimes drives a tad unfairly - but who doesn't?

[Bezza]

Who care's if he's nice bloke? You don't get bonus points for personality! It's performances on the track that count.



It counts a lot, because his driving standards are the same, if not better, than the "untouchable" Matt Neal - but at least Collard can smile and doesn't go round blaming everybody else.

[BTCC2]

But that wont get him results.

[SEATFreak]

Who care's if he's nice bloke? You don't get bonus points for personality! It's performances on the track that count.

I care. And I am sure lots of people who place any value and importance on how much people think a lot of them do. Do you want people being all aloof to you? I don't. I tend to like people who want to like me more than people who are aloof with me.

Who would you rather meet? A front-running championship contender who never smiles or shakes hands with fans or a driver of the calibre of Rob who always has time for fans and likes smiling to them and shaking hands with them.

I haven't had the confidence to speak to a few drivers, mainly because I don't know what to say, that is why I get nervous as I approach the pitlane when open to the public, but the fondest memory I have is when I got Rob's autograph in 2005. I didn't have a poster or those cards so I gave him an MG X-Power cap and he happily signed it.

He may be struggling in terms of position even in the Independents trophy standings but he would win the trophy if their was one for being amenable and approachable.

[wedge]

Personality only matters when you're 10 years old and desperate for an autograph.

Now in my 20s I really couldn't give a toss. Plenty of cocky and arrogant drivers who are still good drivers. I get a thrill seeing then performing on the race track, not standing next to them and having a picture taken with them.

The drivers main job is to drive a race car on the limit. You can see why some drivers end up in a strop - that last thing they want to do is being hassled with PR/media.

That's just a personal opinion. I'm sure there are many others who would really disagree with me!

[VX_Rules]

I agree with Wedge, sure it's nice for them to be great with the public, but it is there job to win.

[Hazell B]

Personality only matters when you're 10 years old and desperate for an autograph.


That's just a personal opinion. I'm sure there are many others who would really disagree with me!


I am one of the disagree-ers :p :

Far as I'm concerned, if a driver (or any sportsman for that matter) doesn't appear to be nice, I cannot make myself care for them at all. I can see Matt Neal's a good driver for example, but I can't cheer him on even now he's in a VX car. Same thing happened when Jenson Button went to one of my favourite teams - I didn't wish his Honda as well as the other.

Maybe it's a female thing, but I think most women are the same as me.
We only like bad boys when they're charming and not really bad :laugh:

[SEATFreak]

Can I just do a straw poll of who thinks a good personality helps with a stronger support?

[BeansBeansBeans]

Can I just do a straw poll of who thinks a good personality helps with a stronger support?

A good personality helps, of course. If someone is nice to you, you tend to wish them well. It's just human nature.

[MSP]

Should any of you be fortunate enough to spend some time in Rob's company you will understand he is not only a nice bloke but a nice bloke who is absolutely passionate about motor racing. The majority of his racing has been self funded, he wasn't born with a silver spoon, & he thus works bloody hard to get where he is.

Let's not forget in his circuit 'career' he's won in Vectras (TOCA support), won the BTCC Indie title in a season which for Rob came very close to ending at Thruxton (some will criticise the competition he had but you can only compete against those who are there when the lights go out - & none of them were bad...), not to mention his outright BTCC wins.

I'm sure you've all driven a fwd & rwd tourer, know & understand the differences/complexities between them inside out, & can set consitantly quicker lap times? Some of you? Any of you? No...? Didn't think so...

Criticise away folks. But only once you've been there, done it (or at least tried to do it), & bought the t-shirt. The efforts required by everyone to get on that grid are phenomenal - fair play & hats off to them all for being there & providing us with the great spectacle, which I think most if not all of us aspire to be a part of, that is the BTCC.

Good luck to all at Croft & fingers X'd Erkut can drive his Astra likes it's stolen when the lights go out

[BeansBeansBeans]

I'm sure you've all driven a fwd & rwd tourer, know & understand the differences/complexities between them inside out, & can set consitantly quicker lap times? Some of you? Any of you? No...? Didn't think so...

Criticise away folks. But only once you've been there, done it (or at least tried to do it), & bought the t-shirt.

I don't agree with this.

I've never played Premiership football, but I feel I can point out when someone has played badly. Why should motorsport be any different?

[VX_Rules]

Collard just got 5th! How about that!

[VkmSpouge]

Well done to Collard on a good 5th place, he drove well in the appaulling conditions.

[BeansBeansBeans]

Looks like Collard has responded to the criticism. Another impressive drive in Race 2.

[VkmSpouge]

Yes, it has been a very good weekend so far for Collard. Motorbase appear to enjoy these conditions around Croft.

[wedge]

I do give credit where credit's due and it was great stuff from Rob :up:

[CroftPilgrim]

I think Rob justified his race seat this weekend. The Motorbase BMWs were excellent as a team and its a a shame Steven Kane didn't get a similar finish

[the rat fan]

Having atteneded my first rece of the season yesterday i was very impressed with Mr collard! Look at last year when RAC got their hands on the BMW's it took then untill croft to get them sorted and it appeared that motorbase had made a massive jump forward with the cars yesterday.

I'm not a massive Rob fan and never have been but i do think that he gets alot of undeserved stick. He's never gonna be a Plato of Gio but he more than holds his own in the BTCC. Do people not remember 2005?? he was in a one car team and the 2nd half of that season he was really up there.

As for the people that say personality does not count!! what are you on about????????
Take someone like Ricky Hatton why has he got such a massive massive following, fair play he's bloody good but he's also a cracking personality out of the ring aswell. He's no better than Calzagie (possibly not even as good) but he has 10 times the army of fans.

Paul O'neill springs to mind, in my opinion he's not as good as Rob Collard but you find me anyone that had a bad word to say about the man.

[Robinho]

assuming we can't criticise as we're not Tourning car drivers, what makes you think you can give credit when he's done well either! :rolleyes:

everyone is entitled to their opinion, and on here entitled to share it - sure there are some who have a more informed opinion and you might want to take more from that than some other, but criticise if you want, especially if you have something to back up your opinion.

personally i think he's a good driver who's done well in the past, however he's, for me, "only" a top midfield driver, which in smaller fields yielded some great results, whereas now the field is larger and the talent deeper he's having to fight harder for lesser positions - fair play he drove very well yesterday and picked up some good results, and i do think some of the flak he attracts is a bit harsh, but hey, you can't like everybody

[cookingfat]

Despite a lot of what has been said before, and we all heard how Alfafan hates him with a passion... I think Rob Collard, has, this season driven possibly his best season yet in the Motorbase BMW.

He has kept out of trouble and got on with the job.

He was on for a fifth or sixth place in race two at Oulton Park, but was stopped by an engine problem. And his drive in the third race at Oulton Park was fantastic, from the back of the grid up to eighth.

His fastest lap just .02 slower than fastest man Jackson.

Possible podium before the season finish?

[wedge]

but criticise if you want, especially if you have something to back up your opinion.

Even Tim Harvey said in his commentary this year that Collard used to be a controversial driver.

[Robinho]

i'd agree with that, he certainly has been involved his fair share of incidents and then some, but for all the flak, this year he seems to be driving very well, the results for both motorbase dirvers are getting better and they are looking pretty quick and consistent, and i for one didn't expect Rob to be as close to Kane as he is once Kane got used to the car and the championship.

given the depth of the field this year he's doing very well to be picking up good results and staying out of trouble

[MBailey06]

Even Tim Harvey said in his commentary this year that Collard used to be a controversial driver.

Yes, "used to", that means he isn't now, and I think people should wipe that controversy from their minds as he seems to be a new driver, for the better.

[SEATFreak]

Yes, "used to", that means he isn't now, and I think people should wipe that controversy from their minds as he seems to be a new driver, for the better.

Can anyone offer any suggestions as to this apparent improvement your all seeing in Rob?

I mean I have one theory but it don't know how popular it will be. Maybe, just maybe, during the times when he was on either end of an incident he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and that it could have happened to anyone in Robs position and that Rob is having a particularly good time of it as far as racing fortune is concerned.