ROB COLLARD had a superb weekend at Donington in the second round of the British Touring Car Championship.

The Hook driver recorded his first podium of the season as he won the second race as well as picking up two more top 10 finishes to storm into fourth spot in the Drivers' Championship.

Collard looked set for a front row grid position in race one at the Derbyshire track as he got the jump on his rivals putting on slick tyres as qualifying came to an end.

However, the session was red flagged and this allowed everyone to return to the pits and change to slick tyres and so in the end the Hampshire racer had to settle for sixth.

Collard made a blistering start off the line in race one on Sunday, as he moved up to third.

However, this was his outing on the soft tyres and as they went off during the race, he slipped down the field and came in sixth.

His second outing for the West Surrey Racing team saw the Collard again make a great start from the line in his BMW, which saw him up to third and this time on the medium compound tyres he picked off the leading second Tom Ingram and then Mat Jackson.

The reverse grid for race three saw the Hook driver back in eighth, but again he had superb drive to finish fourth just missing out on his second podium as he went over the finishing line.

This leaves Collard fourth in the championship on 64 points and is 14 points behind leader Matt Neal ahead of home meeting at Thruxton.

A delighted Collard said: “I had a good feeling going to Donington as we did well there on the press day.

“Coming away with a victory, as well as a sixth and fourth was a great day and keeps me on course for a top three place in the championship, which was my aim at the start of the season.”

Rob’s youngest son Jordan Collard racing in Ginetta Juniors, one of the support event had a tough weekend as he was knocked off in race one before completing single.

The teenager produced a brilliant drive in race two coming from the back of the field of the 21 cars and came through to finish 11th.

In his final outing he was in steady eighth spot by the middle of the race, but an electrical problem forced him out.

Father Rob Collard said: “I really fell for Jordan as he has had three non finishers in six races and none have been his fault.”

Next up for Rob and Jordan Collard is a trip to Thruxton on the weekend of May 7 and 8.

Collard’s eldest son Ricky Collard was in fine form in the British Formula Three Championships as he collected two podium finishes as he came second in races one and three, either side of a fourth place finish. This moved him up to second in the championship and is next racing at Rockingham on April 30.