Kent’s very own Michael Crees will be taking to the grid in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for 2019, and it really is a dream come true.

The racer from Broadstairs hasn’t been on track for that long, to be racing in the BTCC in 2019 marks a meteoric rise through the racing series.

Speaking to Kent Sports News about his excitement for the coming season, Crees said: “Well to be honest it’s a live long dream come true! I know it’s going to be hard but I’m so looking forward to getting stuck in.”

Crees will be taking to the grid with Kent team Team Hard, making it a dream Kent line-up with Mike Bushell also on the grid. Giving his thoughts on how the how the move to Team Hard came about.

Michael added: “Well we were looking at doing a few different series then we got talking to some touring car teams then I got the call from Tony Gilham and it made sense to join Team Hard.

Crees is a relative unknown to the BTCC fans, and he has only been racing for a couple of years, but he charts his career and rapid rise for those who have never seen him race.

He said: “Well there is not a lot to say as I have only been car racing for 2 years! It’s been such a whirlwind start. I started in the Ginetta G40 in the GRDC+ championship and won the championship in my first ever season.

“Then we took the massive step to Ginetta GT4 Supercup which is live on the BTCC package and also won the championship which put my name out there and has made a great story for motorsport.

“My style is quite aggressive but I had to learn how to race this year and I am still learning every time I’m in the car.”

It really is a dream come true for Michael who is a massive fan of the BTCC and has stood with the fans watching from the banks of Brands Hatch, and in 2019 he will be living that dream.

“Yes like I said, two years ago I was a paying customer now I’m on the grid in front of the fans! It’s an amazing story come true.”

To only be racing for two years and to have already win titles it shows that Crees really does have talent, winning the title in his debut season in 2016 really was unexpected.

He said: “Well I really didn’t know what to expect, I was racing people who had been racing for years and thought top 10 would be good but when I put it on pole by nearly one second I knew we would be in for a shot of winning

“GT4 was amazing, winning the championship in front of my family sponsors and fans was amazing of course and driving from last after a spin to second and win the championship was special, also doing the treble at Silverstone was crazy.”

Now Michael steps into the VW Passat CC which is going through its winter rebuild ahead of the off season testing program getting underway and Crees is looking forward to getting some much needed experience behind the wheel.

He added: “Yeah we have a very strong winter program set which will be invaluable to me.

“I am definitely looking to establish myself with the fans and marshals but on track top 20 would be great.”