Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher will race for Power Maxed Racing in the 2016 British Touring Car Championship, after the ITV actor signed to race the team’s second Chevrolet Cruze.
Fletcher has been starring in the hit ITV soap Emmerdale for the past 20 years, where he is perhaps better known to audiences as Andy Sugden.
The 32-year old was announced as the team’s second driver at the Official BTCC media day at Donington Park.
Fletcher, who has been racing competitively since 2012, has had a successful career to-date, racing in sportscars and even prototypes in the V de V Challenge.
He will now form part of the young team’s tin-top line-up, with Hunter Abbott acting as his more experienced team-mate, as was revealed already.
Team Principal Adam Weaver said that he was glad to have been able to deliver a ‘big name’ for the forthcoming season, following the departure of 2015 drivers Dave Newsham and Josh Cook.
“We are delighted to welcome Kelvin to PMR and give him his chance to step up into the BTCC,” said Weaver. “He has a strong sportscar track record and he is more than ready to make the transition to the UK’s finest domestic racing series. We think Kelvin is an excellent choice to race alongside Hunter, we feel they will work together and will both be turning a few heads this year.
“We promised a big name for this year and Kelvin’s celebrity status will certainly draw a crowd. We’re looking forward to working with another celebrity driver following our relationship with Paul Hollywood.
“We have thousands of ideas buzzing around the office for other projects we could work on with Kelvin, our favourite at the moment is an Emmerdale vs Corrie track day.”
Fletcher himself adds that he is fulfilling a ‘lifelong dream’ to be racing in the BTCC.
“I’m really looking forward to making the step up to the BTCC, signing with such a solid team as Power Maxed Racing will no doubt make the transition to the BTCC a smooth one.
“I’m a massive motorsport fan and have been watching the BTCC for as long as I can remember, it has been a lifelong dream to race against my childhood heroes and it is about to become a reality thanks to Power Maxed Racing and the University of Bolton.”