A rallycross star from Sittingbourne wants to win the sport’s first-ever world championship this year but will have to beat the very best – including a former F1 world champion – to do it.

Liam Doran, 27, will criss-cross the globe in 2014 in search of silverware and is hoping to triumph in his local event at Lydden Hill in May to show his rivals, including British Touring Car champion Andrew Jordan, his driving class.

For the first time the sport will receive global recognition this year and with the FIA World Rallycross Championship ready to start in Portugal this weekend, Doran is delighted to be a part of it.

“This (rallycross) is all I do, all I’ve ever known,” he said. “I’ve probably been one of the luckiest people in motorsport.

“I’ve gone from grassroots to top competitor in an FIA world championship.”

Since starting in rallycross aged 14 in classic Minis, Doran is classed as one of the world’s best. With a Monster Energy-backed Citroen DS3 at his disposal, he will be busy behind the wheel and behind the scenes.

He is now the team boss of LD Motorsports and with four cars to run, Doran is set for a packed campaign.

He said: “We have four cars, more than anyone else. I haven’t been in the seat; I’ve been organising the team and have been so busy with that.

“The car is well capable of winning.”

Winning is something Doran has failed to do at Lydden – but he wants to put that right on May 24-25 when the best rallycrossers come to Kent for round two.

“I’ve probably been one of the luckiest people in motorsport..." - Liam Doran

“There’s only been problems with the car, never my driving here,” he added. “I want to do well here, it’s my home track.”

Doran’s opponents this season include 1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve.

The Canadian misses the Lydden event as he races in the Indy 500 the same weekend, but Doran is not flustered.

“It’s crazy to be against the best in the world,” he said. “I don’t fear them, not at all, no-one scares me. I believe I can win and be the best – I do.”

Tickets for round two at Lydden Hill are available via lyddenhillevents.co.uk.