Michael Crees will return to the British Touring Car Championship for the second half of the season, taking over the CUPRA previously raced by Bobby Thompson.
Thompson is currently the team’s best-placed driver in the championship standings – sitting in 14th after claiming a podium and six top ten results in the first half of the season – but he has had to step down from driving duties.
Instead, 39-year-old Crees will return to the team for the first time since 2019, as he enters into a fourth season in the BTCC.
Last year, Crees raced with Power Maxed Racing, ending the year 20th overall and scoring a career-best race finish of eighth. Two years beforehand, he raced with BTC Racing to 17th overall, whilst in his début year in 2019, with Team HARD, he was 26th.
“I’m so excited to be returning to Team HARD,” said Crees. “I have missed the family feel and even though I’ve been at other teams, they have always made me and my family feel welcome.
“The team has come on leaps and bounds over the last few years. I’m super excited to jump in the Cupra, dust off some cobwebs and give it my best shot!”
Team HARD Racing Team Principal Tony Gilham welcomed Crees back to the team after four years away.
“We are delighted to have Michael back on board,” said Gilham. “He is a talented driver with a proven track record and shares our passion for the BTCC.
“We believe that this reunion will be a fruitful one, and we look forward to a successful second half of the season.”