Broadstairs racing driver Michael Crees returns to his local track, Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit, this coming weekend for the final three rounds of the 2022 season – and the Kent racer is aiming to go out with a bang in front of his home fans and dedicated sponsors.
In what has been a character-building first year back in the BTCC since his triumphant Jack Sears Trophy winning campaign in 2020, ‘Creesy’ has battled hard season-long but rewards have been few and far between.
During the visit to Silverstone National Circuit just over a week ago, the CarStore Power Maxed Racing driver had high hopes dashed by a series of on-track incidents not of his making. Costing the chance of continuing great momentum from the previous race meeting at Thruxton, instead he had to settle for a best of sixth in the Independents Trophy and 16th position overall.
Thruxton, of course, was the highlight of the year with Creesy finishing eighth, ninth and eighth in the three races with some fantastic performances – equating to second in the Independents Trophy in each encounter.
It is that form the Vauxhall Astra racer hopes to return to at Brands Hatch GP Circuit this Sunday, 9th October, during the championship finale to bring a strong and positive conclusion to the season and use as a springboard with which to go into the winter off-season.
The full-length Grand Prix Circuit is a true challenge for any driver, one which requires maximum commitment and, therefore, total confidence in the car and set-up. Although completely different in terms of its layout to ultra-fast Thruxton where the No.777 Vauxhall was competitive, the demands of the 2.43-mile GP Circuit in that respect are similar.
As his home event, this weekend’s races will bring a huge amount of support for Creesy from across Kent and also unstinting backing, as always, from his key partners Glencar Construction, Geberit, DDS Group, PCS, Fire Control Services, CTD, Blue Rock Systems, Aquadart and BITA.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Michael Crees said:
“Brands GP is an awesome track, a proper drivers’ track, and it’s always fantastic to be ending the season on home soil. I really do hope we can return to the sort of form we showed at Thruxton and challenge for some good results, get back in that top 10 consistently, but I know it’s going to be a tough ask with so much competition in the BTCC this year.
“Silverstone was a disappointment in the end, lots of contact in the races which really held us back, but that has only made me more determined to hit back stronger this weekend at Brands and put on a great show for the local fans, friends and family and, of course, my sponsors. It’s always important to go into the winter with some positivity under your belt, so that’s what we’re going to push for.”
Brands Hatch GP free practice will take place on Saturday, 8th October, at 09.30 and 12.05 with qualifying – which will be streamed live online at the www.itv.com/btcc website – scheduled to begin at 15.40.
On raceday, Sunday, 9th October, round 28 will start at 11.30, round 29 at 14.30 and round 30 will begin at 17.15. All three races will be live online and broadcast live on ITV4.
2022 BTCC Independents Trophy Standings
8th Michael Crees, 238pts
2022 BTCC Drivers Championship
20th Michael Crees, 50pts
Picture supplied by Jakob Ebrey Photography.