RICKY Collard will make his British Touring Car Championship debut at Rockingham this weekend as he substitutes for his father Rob at Team BMW.

Rob has been ruled out of the next two meeting due to concussion after two big stunts at the last meeting at Snetterton.

His 22-year-old eldest son, will join Colin Turkington at the WSR-run team at Rockingham and the following round at Knockhill.

He may not be able to win the drivers' championship, but he can certainly help BMW retain their team crown.

Ricky Collard is a BMW Motorsport Junior driver, who has this year competed primarily in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.

He tested the BMW 125i M Sport BTCC car at Silverstone late last year and has also participated in several pre-event shakedown sessions.

A class-winner at the 2017 Nurburgring 24 Hours and a race winner in Germany’s ultra-competitive ADAC GT Masters series, Collard this year claimed a British GT4 podium at Oulton Park following a late call-up and saw his car run second at the recent Spa 24 Hours before an issue forced its retirement.

Ricky Collard said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for me. I’ve been around the BTCC paddock throughout my childhood and teenage years watching Dad race – mostly with WSR – and I’ve been desperate to compete in the series for a long time, especially for a team with their record of success.

"While I never wanted my debut to be under circumstances like this, Team BMW are one of the best in the BTCC, have won the championship for the past two seasons and are right in the thick of the title battle again."

Rob Collard said: “Concussion - in motorsport, and many other sports - is something the medical profession is working hard to understand better.

"The advice for now is to sit out Rockingham and Knockhill, but if I can’t be in the car, the next best thing for me is to see another Collard in there.

"I’m extremely proud that Ricky will drive the ‘Collard’ Team BMW car. Giving him the benefit of my knowledge and experience of the 125i M Sport and the BTCC, alongside Ricky’s pace as a BMW Motorsport Junior, we have everything to play for, with the key objective to support the hunt for the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ titles.”