Michael Sykes

"..."are you sure?" he said, I went nuts because he'd just just told the poster boy of british motorsport not to approach me, and I'd just finished second against some of the best drivers in the world, and Lance approched OUR camp first?!"

- Michael Sykes on his Uncle, and Race Engineer "Mogs" who was approached by Lance Andrews

Michael Sykes (born March 9, 1972 in Port Tennant, Wales) is a Welsh race car driver currently competing for ALERT in the TM Master Cup Series.

Sykes broke into the series in 2010 driving for his own team, and won the 2010 Independent's Trophy in the process.

He currently resides in Cardiff Bay, Wales, but also has a home in Indianapolis for when the Master Cup series is competing in the United States.

Early career
Sykes made his full racing debut in 1988, after competing in go-karts for five seasons. He took second place in the Formula Inglesby Festival, which attracted the attention of several well-known drivers and teams, most notably Lance Andrews. Andrews recruited Sykes in 1989 to be a test driver for his team in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), but after several encouraging test runs in Inglesby's youth development program, Sykes was given the opportunity to drive at the one-hour Special Grand Prix at Donington Park.

1990-95: British Touring Cars
Sykes gained a full-time ride in the BTCC in 1990 alongside Andrews, before he departed for the TM Master Cup Series. Andrews' faith in the Welshman would be rewarded the following season, as Sykes won three races and finished second in the final points standings.

1992 would be a banner year for Sykes, as he racked up nine victories en route to the BTCC championship, which made him the youngest ever BTCC Champion, a record which remains unbroken. He was subsequently offered a test drive invitation in Formula A, an offer which Sykes turned down.

Hopes of a Sykes repeat the following year were dashed in testing, as a severe crash, which included a multiple barrel-roll, hospitalized him for the majority of the season. He did return to racing near the end of the 1993 season, to the applause of the paddock.

He returned to form in 1994, for his final year with Inglesby who were to be withdrawing their factory support at the end of that season, a season-long battle with defending champion Finlay McKenzie helped promote the series like no other rivalry. Sykes had the last laugh over his borderline-friendly rival, claiming the championship on the last corner of the last lap at Donington.

1995: The Desswindel Issue
Sykes left the BTCC in 1995 to sign with Desswindel in the German Supercar series. It was a deal that was struck not long before his final year with Inglesby. However, the team and manufacturer went into liquidation before the season even started. It was the first sign of the German Supercar championship in its original form beginning to deteriorate. Sykes would be stuck in Germany without a drive, without a job, his racing career was almost over. It took him three months to get back to Britain, towards the end of the year he was back behind the wheel of an Inglesby in the BTCC, with a privately run team, his performances with a struggling team were outstanding, a 3rd place in the final race of the season was the first time an Independant team's car was able to get onto the podium. A horrible year over, Sykes went back to Germany with a new team, and with many points to prove.

1996-98: Sykes with Koswieger
Sykes finally made his German Supercar debut in 1996 with the Kosweiger team. The team based in Kaiserslauten had bought some of the assets lost by Desswindel and felt obliged to employ Sykes for the remainder of the original contract. He earned three victories toward the end of the season. The team moved to the International Sportscar Trophy series in 1997, and, alongside former Formula A champion Jean-Luc DeLuc, finished third in the final standings.

Kosweiger moved to Formula A in 1998, and the team retained Sykes as its test driver.

Sykes took the 1999 season off, but is still recognized as an "employee" of Koswieger and given the role of "British Ambassador".

2000-01: Back to the BTCC
Sykes returned to the BTCC in 2000 with a crew formed from members of his original Formula Inglesby team, running a car provided by Koswieger, winning the Indy Cup with outstanding front-running pace, almost capturing the overall title. He would repeat as Indy Cup winner in 2001 with the same car, but by 2002, a new discipline would grab Sykes' attention.

2002-04: British Thundercars
In 2002, Sykes switched from touring cars to stock cars, forming a team in the then-titled British Stock Car Cup. The team, ADX Racing, was a three-car effort consisting of Sykes, Kenny Hodges (cousin of former TM Master Cup regular Alan), and former BTCC rival McKenzie.

Hodges would win the 2003 championship, with Sykes placing fourth.

However, family matters forced Sykes to sell the team in 2004, and he spent the next five years out of racing.

TM Master Cup career (Sykes' second return to racing)
Sykes made his return to a racing paddock in 2009 as a VIP in the TM Master Cup. It was there that he considered a return to racing.

2010
Sykes made his return to racing in 2010, re-forming ADX Racing as an Independent's Trophy entry at Brands Hatch. Sykes performed well enough to earn the inaugural Trophy, which earned him a fill-in role at the Round of Decatur, substituting for Matt Taylor. Sykes also took part in the 12 Hours of Road Atlanta in a Koswieger GTK-10, standing in for Karl Yvrandes, Koswieger Totelwerks' team leader, as part of the International Sportscar Endurance Trophy.

2011
In 2011, Sykes signed with Bill Barclay Racing to drive the team's No. 45 STS, with backing from S.A. Brains Brewery. He performed well in the first half of the season, even claiming his first career victory at Ohio. Sykes left Barclay after the Round of British Columbia, citing the other competitors' "inability" to drive causing most of his accidents (even saying on his Twitter feed the other drivers were "all driving like complete cabbages").

Sykes returned for the Round of Decatur driving the third FLASH Racing Inglesby, but had mechanical issues at the start of the race and never really contended.

2012
FLASH Racing retained the services of Sykes for the following season, he and Leonid Roderick would suffer reliability issues with the Inglesby Sonicboom in the first half of the season, leading most of the TM paddock to suggest that Sykes may be the unluckiest driver for the season, however, it was fortunate for Sykes that he was able to win the Round of Russia at Vnukovo, Yulia Nosova lost the lead of the race on the very last lap.

His performances after the race in Russia and also at the next round, his home venue, Round of Wales pushed him into the top 10 in the standings. He was expected to win the Round of Wisconsin, having lead for the majority of the race, only to gamble on tyres and lose the lead on the last lap.

Plans for 2013
FLASH Racing are to retain Michael for another year, thanks to his new links with Launch Energy, who also give their name to Launch Energy Motorpark, the drinks company will own a majority stake in the race team. Thank's to the new branding, Sykes will be running the #5.

Personal
Michael Sykes is Married to Penny Sykes nee Xarier, whom he met with whilst at Desswindel, they have a son, Ashley, who is now 16 and has just completed his first full season of Karting.

Michael Sykes is 5ft 11inches and has been on a long recovery to full fitness since his return to racing in the TM Master Cup.

Michael's hobbies include Running and Golf, Michael is known to run from his apparment in Indianapolis, run a lap around the outside of the Speedway, and back again on a daily basis in his off-season. He plans to do the same thing when he moves back to his home in Cardiff Bay to the Millenium Stadium.

His other hobby has lead to the now yearly event of "Golf in our Overalls" at the Indy Golf course, in the run up to the TM Round of Indianapolis, much to the annoyance of the members who maintain a strict dress code.

Thank's to his allegiance to Koswieger for so many years, he is the proud owner of a GT-K, the manufacturers flagship supercar, one of only 100 made.

Michael Sykes is now one of the Spokespeople for Launch Energy drinks, and has been seen in their latest commercials.

Career Stats
Early Career

First Return To Racing

TM Master Cup Career(Sykes' second return to racing)