It was a frustrating weekend for Hook Touring Car driver Rob Collard at Silverstone last weekend.

Collard was involved in a multi car melee which saw his taken to hospital for precautionary checks following the collision.

With one weekend of racing left of the championship, this early exit means The BMW drivers chances of a top three finish is unlikely.

However, thanks to the good work across the season from Collard and team mate Colin Turkington the team remain at head of the Manufacturers’ Championship while WSR-run Team BMW remain favourites to claim the Teams’ title.

Collard’s weekend was cut short after making strong progress from 21st on the grid in race one, when suddenly the Hook drivers steering broke when hit by another car at two-thirds distance.

His damaged machine left the track, slid wildly across the grass, before firing back across the circuit at Becketts. An unsighted Will Burns then slammed into Collard’s car, with Andrew Jordan also unfortunately involved – ending the trio’s respective efforts and eventually resulting in the race being cut short.

Collard and Burns were both taken to hospital for precautionary checks, with the latter suffering rib injuries, but both were discharged later in the day.

Collard said: “It’s hugely disappointing to end a weekend in this way, and I’m sure it wouldn’t have happened if the driving standards in the middle of the field had been better.

“I ended up off the track because of two cars leaning on each other too heavily and I’ve had a big accident through no fault of my own that leaves the team with a huge job to ready a car for me for Brands Hatch.”

He added: “Fortunately I’m sore, but otherwise OK. I’d like to thank Dr Trafford and the Silverstone medical team as well as the staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital for looking after me and to wish Will Burns a speedy recovery from his injuries sustained in our incident.”

Collard will take part in the final race at Brands Hatch on September 30 and October 1 hoping to advance on his fifth place standing.