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Matt Allison (racing driver)
Encyclopedia
Matt Allison is an English
racing driver
. He contested the early part of the 2008 British Touring Car Championship season
. He progressed through the ranks of British Karting winning 2 Championships and 2 Runners Up Trophies before moving to Formula Ford
.
In his first year of car racing Matt won the BRDC Formula Ford 1600 single seater championship in 2000. In 2003 he made the switch to front wheel drive saloon racing in the form of the Renault Clio Cup. A 3rd place in only his third ever saloon car race meant that Matt was again at the front of a respected British Championship and pushing for the title. Finishing 3rd overall with an impressive 12 podiums Matt went on to win the highly prestigious Renault Clio Winter Cup Series in 2005.http://www.cliocup.com/rounds/2005/winter
In 2006 Matt saw his career take a big step forwards when he was given the opportunity to enter the world of sports cars by racing in the British GT Championship. Matt drove his Porsches 911 GT3 to 4 wins, 9 podiums and 6 pole positions to clinch his third British Championship in six years. Racing across Europe, Matt won the highly prestigious Pau Grand Prix Street Race in France in July 2006 http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~14~id~131559.htm beating over 60 entries from across Europe.
In late 2006 Matt participated in the last rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship
at Mugello in Italy, racing an Ascari KZ1R. In torrential conditions he proved his talent in a car he barely knew by finishing second in both the two hour races, Ascari's best results of the season. http://www.fiagt3.com/newsitem.php?key=94
In 2007 Matt entered the British Touring Car Championship
racing for Motorbase Performance
in their SEAT
Toledo Cupra's. Matt finished a very credible 6th in the Independents Trophy and 12th overall. His performance over the season won him widespread recognition as a Touring Car Driver and he was rated in the Top 10 of the BTCC 2007 Season by Autosport
in his first season.http://www.autosport.com/journal/article.php/id/1332&type=journal&id=1332
In early 2008 Matt signed to drive a Chevrolet Lacetti for Robertshaw Racing in the 2008 British Touring Car Championship season
. With little opportunity to test the car before the Media Day at Rockingham Motor Speedway
, Matt finished 7th for the day on his first drive in the car justifying his high expectations for the season. Matt put in some good performances in the first 9 rounds of the series, picking up some points, but had to pull out after the Donington Park
rounds due to financial problems http://www.btccaction.co.uk/2008/05/13/matt-allison-pulls-out-of-2008-btcc/. Despite this, Allison was still 17th in the championship.
Unable to secure a satisfactory full time seat for 2009, Matt decided to take a year out to concentrate on securing funding for a competitive drive in 2010.
, Renault
and Volvo
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
racing driver
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
. He contested the early part of the 2008 British Touring Car Championship season
2008 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 51st British Touring Car Championship season. It was also the first that the championship is sponsored by HiQ...
. He progressed through the ranks of British Karting winning 2 Championships and 2 Runners Up Trophies before moving to Formula Ford
Formula Ford
Formula Ford is a single seater, open wheel class in motorsport which exists in some form in many countries around the world. It is an entry-level series to motor racing....
.
In his first year of car racing Matt won the BRDC Formula Ford 1600 single seater championship in 2000. In 2003 he made the switch to front wheel drive saloon racing in the form of the Renault Clio Cup. A 3rd place in only his third ever saloon car race meant that Matt was again at the front of a respected British Championship and pushing for the title. Finishing 3rd overall with an impressive 12 podiums Matt went on to win the highly prestigious Renault Clio Winter Cup Series in 2005.http://www.cliocup.com/rounds/2005/winter
In 2006 Matt saw his career take a big step forwards when he was given the opportunity to enter the world of sports cars by racing in the British GT Championship. Matt drove his Porsches 911 GT3 to 4 wins, 9 podiums and 6 pole positions to clinch his third British Championship in six years. Racing across Europe, Matt won the highly prestigious Pau Grand Prix Street Race in France in July 2006 http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~14~id~131559.htm beating over 60 entries from across Europe.
In late 2006 Matt participated in the last rounds of the FIA GT3 European Championship
FIA GT3 European Championship
The FIA GT3 European Championship is a sports car racing series organized by the Stéphane Ratel Organisation and regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It is a championship derived from the international FIA GT1 World Championship, but meant to provide competition for more...
at Mugello in Italy, racing an Ascari KZ1R. In torrential conditions he proved his talent in a car he barely knew by finishing second in both the two hour races, Ascari's best results of the season. http://www.fiagt3.com/newsitem.php?key=94
In 2007 Matt entered the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
racing for Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance
Motorbase Performance is an English motor racing team, founded in 2004 by former Production Saloon racer Dave Bartrum. They are best known for their British Touring Car Championship campaigns, which produced a first overall podium at the Snetterton meeting in 2008.-Porsche Carrera Cup Great...
in their SEAT
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
Toledo Cupra's. Matt finished a very credible 6th in the Independents Trophy and 12th overall. His performance over the season won him widespread recognition as a Touring Car Driver and he was rated in the Top 10 of the BTCC 2007 Season by Autosport
Autosport
Autosport is a weekly magazine covering motorsport, published in the United Kingdom every Thursday by Haymarket Consumer Media. It was first published on 25 August 1950 by Gregor Grant, immediately prior to the Silverstone International Trophy meeting of that year...
in his first season.http://www.autosport.com/journal/article.php/id/1332&type=journal&id=1332
In early 2008 Matt signed to drive a Chevrolet Lacetti for Robertshaw Racing in the 2008 British Touring Car Championship season
2008 British Touring Car Championship season
The 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship season was the 51st British Touring Car Championship season. It was also the first that the championship is sponsored by HiQ...
. With little opportunity to test the car before the Media Day at Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham Motor Speedway
Rockingham is the UK's most modern motorsport venue and Europe's fastest racing circuit, hosting corporate driving days, driver training, conferencing & exhibitions, vehicle manufacturing events, track days, testing, driving experiences and motorsport...
, Matt finished 7th for the day on his first drive in the car justifying his high expectations for the season. Matt put in some good performances in the first 9 rounds of the series, picking up some points, but had to pull out after the Donington Park
Donington Park
Donington Park is a motorsport circuit near Castle Donington in Leicestershire, England.Originally part of the Donington Hall estate, it was created as a racing circuit during the pre-war period when the German Silver Arrows were battling for the European Championship...
rounds due to financial problems http://www.btccaction.co.uk/2008/05/13/matt-allison-pulls-out-of-2008-btcc/. Despite this, Allison was still 17th in the championship.
Unable to secure a satisfactory full time seat for 2009, Matt decided to take a year out to concentrate on securing funding for a competitive drive in 2010.
Personal life
Matt currently lives in Norwich and was married to his wife, Elise, in December 2007. As well as being a keen golfer and tennis player, he helps run the family's commercial vehicle garage in his home town, Norwich. Matt is a well-respected race instructor having worked at many of the Englands racing schools and has undertaken corporate work for amongst others, MazdaMazda
is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.In 2007, Mazda produced almost 1.3 million vehicles for global sales...
, Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
and Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
.