CIRENCESTER’S Matthew George won the Midland Karting Championships in the Junior Rotax Max class at Rissington Kart Club at the weekend. Three excellent results in the heats secured pole position for this Year 11 Deer Park pupil and a confident drive in the final saw off any rivals to take first place on the podium.

Matt is also contesting the Super 1 Karting National Series for the first time this year and is currently ranked in the top 15 against more than 60 competitors, as well as being in line for the prestigious Rookie Awards.

Last weekend’s round saw him take sixth place in both finals and the Rookie Trophy with top-three lap times in every session.

Deer Park has been extremely supportive of Matt’s efforts to break into the top echelons of his sport this year which has meant competing at venues from Kent to Scotland and running as a member of the P1 Karting Team with trainer Richard Amos and personal mechanic Sam Smith. Matt’s racing engines are prepared for him by Grice Racing Engines to suit his driving style.

Currently supported entirely by his parents and grandfather, Matt has a career in motorsport engineering as his goal. Next year he will contest these championships as a senior and he is hoping to secure some local sponsorship to help ease the financial burden.

Never far away from the action is Matt’s mentor, his father Ian, who this weekend helped another young Cirencester driver, Matt Ryder from Siddington, to secure fifth place on the podium in the same class.