July 22, 1999
Champion of the future
When ex-Formula One world champion Michael
Schumacher tried his hand at karting, he drives Tonykart.
And the top Italian manufacturer designed the
machine which Runcorn youngster Matthew Sherwen uses in competitions
nationwide.
The 13-year-old may not be a house hold name like the Grand Prix
star from Germany, whose 130mph crash in Sunday's British Grand
Prix at Silverstone was headline news, but he could be in the years
to come.
Matthew continues to make steady progress at the lower end of the
motor sport scale.
Beechwood - based Matthew is in his fifth year of karting and his
third season in the McLaren-Mercedes Champions for the Future series.
He is on course to improve on his overall 18th place last year.
At the halfway stage of the championship - going into Sunday's fourth
round of six at Wigan's Three Sisters Circuit - he was lying 14th
of the 34 drivers in the Formula Yamaha Class.
Unfortunately, Matthew's challenge was thrown off course when another
driver went into the back of him in the final.
After qualifying 14th from three hard fought heats, the Runcorn
teenager had been moving through the pack but never really recovered
from the collision and had to settle for 18th.
This year, Frodsham High School pupil Matthew is a works driver
for O'Neill Racing who are the UK distributor for Tonykart.
''Tonykart are the Ferrari of karting,' explained dad Peter, and
O'Neill Racing are multiple British and European champions. They
are arguably the top team in British karting.
'We got talking to O'Neils at a testing day in January and they
were looking to break into the Yamaha market with their new chassis,
the Verde.
'The regulations state that we have to run a British-made chassis
in our class so Tonykart and O'Neil Racing set up a manufacturing
facility for the Verde in Slough to develop the kart for the UK
market.
''Initially, we were charged with developing the Verde kart for
the Yamaha class in the Yamaha Challenge Winter Series. This comprised
six rounds throughout for the National Championships later in the
year.
'Matthew finished sixth overall in face of strong competition and
won the three-round winter series run by the Manchester and Buxton
Karting Club at Three Sisters.'
Starting in October, Champions of the Future will be televised on
Channel 4 in six half-hour programmes on Saturday afternoons.
Martin Hines, who founded the series in 1996 and takes the credit
for launching the British GP winner David Coulthard on the road
to fame with his Zipkart team, said: ''The series has achieved incredible
success by reaching a television audience normally the preserve
of either touring cars or Formula One.'
The maximum age for competing in the series is 16-years-old and
it is at this point that drivers have a decision to make - they
can stay in karts, going into one of the senior classes, or move
into cars.
Mr Sherwen added: 'Matthew would obviously like to develop a career
in motorsport.
'However, a lot of the technology that we have been working with
has developed his ideas of working in automotive engineering.
'If he's unlucky enough not to make it to the pinnacle of his sport.
I would imagine he will stay in karting until he is at least 18-years-old.'
'The involvement of factory teams has certainly given karting a
whole new dimension. With up to six karters at any one event, O'Neil
have a 7.5 tonne, 30ft transporter to ferry around the 14 karts
and 24 engines they require.
'As you can imagine, to compete at this level requires considerable
financial support,' admitted Mr Sherwen.
ICI and Halton Borough council support Matthew through their Target
Excellence grant awards scheme.
Any individuals or companies, who would like to help further the
teenager's motorsport career can contact Peter, tel 01928 712194.
Report by Dave Bettley - Sports Editor of the Runcorn/Widnes
Weekly News 15/07/99
For enquiries contact the Press Office:
Craig Welsh
Telephone: 01928 511528
Fax: 01928 569459
Email: craig.welsh@ineoschlor.com
