KARTING: Ryder collects the Midlands Championship (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester karter adds Little Rissington title to Shenington series last year

6:13pm Monday 29th October 2012 in Sport

CIRENCESTER kart racer Matt Ryder won the Midland Championship meeting in the Junior Rotax class at Little Rissington recently with a consistent performance across the two-day event.

Having won the Junior Rotax Club Championship series at Little Rissington last year, Matt Ryder aimed to make the Midland Championship his own this year.

A mechanical failure in practice meant he had to start at the back of the grid in 19th position for Heat 1, but he pushed through the field to claim ninth place at the finish.

In Heat 2, he started in tenth spot but some great overtaking manoeuvres saw him climb to second.

Sunday morning started damp, though the track had dried sufficiently to return to a dry setup for Heat 3 in which Matt had his best grid allocation – seventh.

However, he had an unfortunate start and, in a challenging race, he could manage only sixth.

Unusually, there was a fourth heat, for which the grid positions were decided by ballot. Pulling 12th from a field of 23 competitors meant, once again, that Matt had to start in a mid-grid position. From there he pushed his way up to third, which earned him a front row (second) position in the final.

Matt immediately tucked in behind the pole-position driver and he maintained his position to finish second. However, following the post-race eligibility checks, the first and third drivers were both excluded for running with illegal carburettors, giving them a power advantage, so Matt was awarded the win.

At the end of the weekend, Matt said: “It was a very competitive weekend with some strong drivers and I am thrilled that I have won the prestigious Midland Champs!”

Matt competes monthly in the Shenington Kart Championship where, after winning the series in 2011, he is current lying second with support from local companies Cain & Fuller Estate Agents and Tanners Solicitors LLP.

In 2013, Matt hopes to move up to racing single-seater racing cars, funds permitting.

If you would like to support this young, up-and-coming racing driver in any way, please send an email to matt.ryder.49@ gmail.com expressing your interest.