Rob Collard will partner Jason Plato at Power Maxed Racing after the Vaux🧜hall squad finalise their driver lin🔯e-up for the 2019 British Touring Car Championship.

Collard's future in the series looked to be in some doubt at the end of last season after 15-time BTCC race winner parted company with West Surrey Racing following a nine-year stint w🐻ith the BMW outfi𒐪t.

The former Team BMW driver suffered a heavy shunt during Snetterton last year and waꦗs unable to take part in the four remaining meetin🍨gs of the 2018 campaign on medical grounds.

However, Collard will make his return to racing in 2019 after inking a deal to drive the second of the Vauxh꧑all Astras alongside two-time champion Plato.

Making a return to the FWD mac🌞hinery for the first time since 2🔯007, Collard says his hunger and desire 'is as strong as ever'.

“My hunger for racing and desire to win is as strong as ever. I’m delig🌱hted to form a new partnership with PMR✃ to return to the BTCC in 2019," said Collard.

"I’ve watched their growth and development from day one and seen Adam and the team build a race-winning package that ha🙈s gone from strength to strength.

"I’m very pleased to help build on that success, alongside an experienced team-mate in Jason. Returning to front wheel drive is a challenge I relish, particularly having won🍷 the independents title in a Vauxhall Astra in the past.

"As always, I’d like 🦂to thank all of my sponsors, particularly Duo and Hitachi Construction Machinery, for their continued 🍎support for my 2019 campaign.”

With the Vauxhall squad looking to build from a strong 2018 campaign, Power Maxed Racing team principal Adam Weaver admits signing Plato and Collard for 2💛019 has been 'surreal'. 

“After our breakthrough year in 2018, we🤪 have been looking for a driver line up that not only match𒆙es our ambitions, but that also has the speed and experience to help us realise them," said Weaver.

"I am delighted that R☂ob has decided to join PMR to compꦚlete what I believe to be an incredibly strong driver line up. 

"It is quite surreal for me as the two drivers we have signed are ones that I grew up watching, and are a big part of the reason I fell so in love with BTCC in the first place. Celebrating our eventual successes together are going to make all the hard work so worthwhile.”