Michael Crees is back in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship for 2022, getting behind the wheel of a Power Maxed Racing Vauxhall Astra. 

Having had to miss the 2021 BTCC season, and only raced half of the Porsche season as part of the F1 calendar, it is clear to see Michael is keen to get back on the grid in front of his adoring fans.

Speaking to Kent Sports News, Crees is ready and eager to go for what he hopes is an exciting season ahead.

He said: “We raced half of the season with Porsche on the Formula One calendar, obviously I only managed to do half the season due to Covid and bits and pieces. It was a nice half season off, but I haven’t really relaxed to be fair.

“I have been trying to get a deal done and we have had quite a bit of interest and I have pretty much been at every single team on the grid throughout the months with different offers coming in. Then at the end Power Maxed said we have been trying to get you for the last few years, put a real strong package together and I went up to see the team and the car. 

“It is good to see how much they want to win and to be fair it is just the right fit for me to come back to BTCC. It is where all my fans and support are so it just made perfect sense.”

In joining Power Maxed Racing Crees is joining a team that regularly runs at the front and challenging for the podium is something that he wants to do on a regular basis.

He added: “I have set myself the goal of a podium this year; obviously it was amazing to stand on the podium winning the Jack Sears Trophy and having that in 2020. I do want to be a race winner in the British Touring Cars and that would just top it. 

“Then I can look to reset the goal the next season and win the Independents Teams Championship. Then in a couple of years when I have got a bit more experience to try and go for the overall championship.”

For everyone who joins the BTCC the aim is to challenge the best drivers and teams and try to win the overall title and for Michael Crees he is no different.

“It is tough thought; honestly as I have alluded to maybe being a bit older and a bit more mature you are not going to British Touring Cars and win straight off outright. It is a fine line and a good skill and experience you have to race in this championship, and this championship is by far the hardest championship in the UK.

“You have to learn and earn your stripes, people like Dan Cammish he is a great driver and he came in and very nearly got there in his second year. He is still trying to go for it and it is just so difficult and unpredictable so you can’t just say I am going to win on my first or second time out, it is tough.”

“Porsche Super Cup last year opened my eyes, it has the best teams and drivers in the world and on the world stage it is very tough and competitive and I think we went there and did quite well considering I don’t have much Porsche experience.

“I drove against those drivers on those tracks and it was just a real tall order, but I got on quite well purely because of the fact that I had been in British Touring Cars.”

The 2022 season will present another new challenge to Crees as he gets behind the wheel of the Vauxhall Astra and races it for the first time; it is a challenge that excites him though.

He said: “In 2021 I was really looking forward to driving the Honda again, in pre-season I was quick and I felt at one with the car but obviously it got short. Now though I am back in a brand new car and a brand new team and there is still all that to learn again to. I am hoping that this a long term thing with Power Maxed Racing and that I will be there for the next two or three years.”

As part of the drive to get onto the grid, there are sacrifices that drivers make to be able to achieve their aim and Crees is no exception.

“I have pretty much given up work now to focus on racing full time and give it the best chance I can over the next couple of years. I am not getting any younger and I need to make the most of the next two to three years. 

“I have knuckled down, sold a load of stuff and am focussing on my racing this year and let’s see what we can do with it. I have got to keep all of my partners and sponsors happy this year, and a lot of them have bought in for the long term, and just trying to put myself in the shop window for a big brand to come in and who knows what can happen in the future.”