Team BMW driver Rob Collard is to miss the next two Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rounds at Rockingham and Knockhill on medical grounds.
The driver who will take this vacant seat in the BMW 125i M Sport for these rounds is yet to be announced.
Following his crash last year at Silverstone where he missed the last 5 races of the year including the Brands Hatch GP weekend, Collard has been under observation of the TOCA doctors in case of a recurrence of injury. His large accident in the second race this year at Snetterton saw him suffer concussion and withdrawal from the Diamond Double race.
Now under doctors order, the decision has been taken to withdraw from the next two race weekends so focus can be put on a quick recovery.
A disappointed Collard told btcc.net, “After suffering a serious concussion in a crash at Silverstone in 2017, I was cleared to return to racing earlier this year while remaining under close monitoring by the TOCA medical team.
“Following a pair of high-speed, high-impact accidents in Races 1 and 2 at Snetterton, and after reviewing the results of a concussion test with the medics at the track, it was ruled that I was unfit to participate in the special ‘Diamond Double’ race and that I should not race at Rockingham or Knockhill either.
“I’m absolutely gutted for Team BMW, all my sponsors and supporters and I’d like to thank the TOCA medical team for their professionalism and support, as always.”