Matt Allison (racing driver)
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Matt Allison is a racing driver from Norwich, England, born June 13, 1983. 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.[1]
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 Grand Prix de Pau Street Race in France in July 2006 [2] 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 Cars 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. [3]
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 Magazine in his first season.[4]
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 Donnington Park rounds due to financial problems [5].
[edit] Personal life
Matt currently lives in Norwich and was married to his wife, Elise, in December 2007. As well as being a keen fitness enthusiast, 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, Mazda, Renault and Volvo.
[edit] External links
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