Michael Crees Completes Team VERTU BTCC Line-Up
British Touring Car Championship fan favourite Michael Crees will make his return to the grid in 2025 after today being confirmed as the final member of the four-strong Team VERTU line-up.
The 41-year-old, a former winner of the Jack Sears Trophy, will join forces with Tom Ingram, Tom Chilton and Adam Morgan at the wheel of a Hyundai i30 Fastback N run by the Droitwich-based EXCELR8 team for what will be his fourth full season in Britain’s premier racing series.
The deal has made possible as a result of an exciting new partnership with the Defence industry community, with a striking new livery for the #777 entry to be unveiled prior to the start of the season at Donington Park in late April.
Crees was a latecomer to racing having only taken to the track for the first time in his 30s, when he signed up to compete in the Ginetta Racing Drivers’ Club before stepping onto the BTCC support package in the Ginetta GT4 Supercup,
Racing for the front-running Century Motorsport squad, Crees saw off the challenge of vastly more experienced rival Colin White to secure the Am class title, scoring eleven class wins from 23 starts and breaking into the overall top six multiple times.
From there, Crees graduated into the BTCC where he scored points on his touring car debut at Brands Hatch, and has since gone on to score a best result of eighth overall from his 100 starts in the series to date.
The highlight of his BTCC career came in 2020 when Crees emerged on top of a frenetic season-long battle for the Jack Sears Trophy crown, scoring overall championship points in almost half of the 27 races run in a campaign shortened by the pandemic.
Crees has also competed in both the British GT Championship and the GT4 European Series in recent years and has made four appearances in the Formula One-supporting Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
Michael Crees, #777 Team VERTU Driver, said:
“It’s no secret that I’ve been working hard to get back onto the BTCC grid and there were times over the winter that I didn’t know if we’d be able to make it happen for 2025. To be able to confirm a deal is one thing, but to be joining a team like EXCELR8 that has won the title is brilliant, and I can’t wait to get started.
“Although this will be my fourth full season on the BTCC grid, I’m always learning and the opportunity to race side-by-side by Tom, Tom and Adam can only help me to improve as a driver when you look at their records and everything they have achieved in the series.
“I’m so excited to see what we can do together, and it's been a long road to get me here today. I've worked tirelessly to make it happen, and wouldn't be here without the support of Mike Caldicott, Rich Hall and Danny Buxton, as well as all of my sponsors.
"A huge thank you has to go to them, and the opening rounds at Donington Park can't come soon enough!"
Justina Williams, Team VERTU Team Owner, said:
“We’re pleased to welcome Michael into our line-up for the new season as he makes his return to the BTCC grid and are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together on track.
“Alongside winning the Jack Sears Trophy, he has produced some encouraging performances during his time in the series so far, and we want to try and help him to build on that in 2025.
“With Tom, Tom and Adam alongside him, Michael will be able to work with three of the most experienced drivers on the grid and we are hopeful that he will be able to produce some strong results on track as the season goes on.
“As a team that has always shown support for our Armed Forces, we’re delighted to also be working with the Defence industry community as part of this deal and will represent them with a true sense of pride on track.”