Ricky Collard will return to Team VERTU’s number 11 Hyundai i30 Fastback N for the BTCC finale at Brands Hatch on 10–11 October. He replaces Osamu Kawashima for the three closing races on the Grand Prix circuit.
EXCELR8, which runs the team, confirmed the change on 7 October. Kawashima had been due to contest the final two meetings under an agreement made in June and made his championship debut at Silverstone.
The team says it will now give Kawashima further time in the car away from a race weekend. It described additional preparation as the better route after assessing his Silverstone outing and the demands of the Brands Hatch layout.
Collard steps up from his reserve role after missing the previous meeting. The team’s announcement credits him with seven podium finishes this season, despite entering the campaign without pre-season testing.
The 30-year-old says he is also working with the team towards a possible return in 2027. For now, his confirmed race programme resumes with the final three rounds of the 2026 championship.