HOOK British Touring Car driver Rob Collard will once again be on the grid for the West Surrey Racing team in 2015.

He is the only member of last season’s driver line-up to remain with them as Odiham’s Nick Foster is taking a break from the sport, while reigning champion Colin Turkington has joined last year’s runner-up Jason Plato at the BMR team.

However, WSR look to have an impressive trio of drivers as Collard will be joined by young race winner Sam Tordoff and triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx.

This is the Hook driver’s sixth consecutive season with the team. He has eight victories to his name in the BTCC, all with WSR, and finished sixth overall in the championship last season, as well as helping the team to victory in the independent teams’ title.

The Hampshire-based driver has been part of the BMW 1 Series programme since its inception in early 2013 and has gone on to enjoy one victory and a further seven podiums in the all-conquering 125i M Sport WSR designed and built car.

The opening three rounds of the 30-race season will get underway at Brands Hatch on April 5, with Thruxton hosting three races on May 10 .

Every race throughout the season will be shown live on ITV4.

Collard said: “I am delighted to be racing for WSR for the sixth consecutive season and it’ll be my eighth in total with the team in the BTCC.

“I am looking forward to getting back behind the wheel during testing over the coming week as we prepare to defend our titles in 2015.”

Odiham’s Foster has decided to take a break from BTCC and watch his sons in their karting championships, but will be around to help the team out at some rounds of the champion-ship.”

He said: “I said I was going to do it for three years and ended up doing it for four. I really enjoyed my time, but I have other commitments now.

“I had an offer on the table, but decided not to race this season.”

“I might be back next year and I am sure I will miss it when it comes to the first weekend.

“It looks like another very exciting championship this year and I think that Collard and the WSR team will be very competitive.”

l Ricky Collard, the son of BTCC driver Rob, will once again race in one of the support races, having secured a drive with Areden for their inaugural MSA Formula season.

The 18-year-old made his full-time debut in single-seaters last year in the Formula’s predecessor, Formula Ford GB.

He recorded five podiums, including a second place for Falcon Motorsport, finishing as the second best scholar-ship class driver and seventh overall.

Collard said: “I am enthusiastic about the prospect of a new championship with such high backing,”

“The prospect aspect of a new championship brings with it new challenges for teams, and because of this I feel the offer made to join Arden was one I couldn’t refuse.”

Collard will race alongside a duo of promising British karting graduates, World Champion Enaam Ahmed and Super One Rotax Junior champion Sandy Mitchell.