MOTOR SPORT: OAKMERE-BASED Formula 1 stock car racing driver Carlos Perez contests the World Championships at Coventry on Saturday.
He expects a top-10 performance from himself and has higher hopes still for the future.
'I'd like the world title eventually, maybe in the next three years,' he said.
After nine years in the sport, Perez, 27, has only taken the step up to Formula 1 this season because of increased backing from his sponsors Kevin Armstrong and Geoff Parker, who run the Oakmere transport company Rambler Haulage.
'It is our first season in big-time oval track racing and it has paid off - I'm doing miles better than I ever thought possible,' added Perez, of Chester Road.
He takes his place on the World Championship grid after winning his semi-final at the Southend track two weeks ago.
Perez read the race brilliantly, moving into the lead on lap eight. In the closing stages, the caution flags were waved and the grid slowed to remove two cars that were involved in a pile-up.
Perez knew he had it all to do again when the green flag dropped, and he used his wealth of racing experience as he powered the Roy Howell Commercial V8 Chevrolet to the line and his place on the grid alongside the world's best.
It won him the Driver of the Day accolade and a rave review in Motorsport News.
He said: 'The semi-final race was very fast and I had a lot to do from the rear of the grid to qualify for the Worlds.
'It's been an excellent team effort to get on the grid after an engine blow last month dented our racing budget. The car was a pleasure to drive and we had the best car setting for the conditions,' he said.
Perez will be one of the 34 drivers chasing the ultimate prize in stock car racing and will face the top drivers from across Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, USA and Australia, including six former champions and all in front of a 20,000 crowd.
But it is unlikely to faze Perez who has set the Formula 1 scene alight this season with a unique style combination of exciting and cool driving.
'Winning the semi-final is certainly my biggest achievement to date, and that includes winning the Banger Racing world final three years ago,' he said.
Perez is doing well in the national points rankings and a top-three finish may earn him an invitation to compete in New Zealand.
His father is Spanish but Perez is a Cestrian and he and mum Jane - née Whitnall and originally from Hartford - lived at Wistaston before moving to Oakmere.
'My grandad took me to watch the races at the Crewe Stadium and Belle Vue and my love of the sport grew from there.
'I have won lots of races over the years and it is very exciting, but I never thought I'd be racing Formula 1, let alone taking part in the World Championships,' he said.
