StarFM’s Matt Griffith makes his Racing Debut

StarFM's Matt Griffith (from Matt & LC) had his first meeting behind the wheel of a kart on the weekend racing in the Clubman class at Albury Wodonga's Sheathers Road Kart Complex.

Onboard Video Highlights

Camera: GoPro Motorsports Hero Wide - sportscamera.com.au

We follow Matt's progress throughout the meeting, read on...

Day 1

Practice

Q: How are things shaping up?
Matt Griffith: Well I think I went reasonably well, the plan is that I've got to make formula 1, because I told my Mum I was going to make formula 1, by the time I was say, mid thirties I'd be formula 1 world champion. I'm early thirties now, so I've got two years to make formula 1, which means I would realistically have to win this race meeting to catapult myself into the V8 Supercars next year. So to be honest I don't know if I was quite on the level I need to be, but we'll see in the first race, I'm predicting a win.

Matt full noise through the sweeper

Q: You had a couple of spins out there, what was that like?
MG: Well, I know from watching the movie Top Gun that you only be the best by pushing to the very edge of the envelope.

Q: Well you definitely went off the edge a couple of times …
MG: Well I did, I did, but that was just pushing the edge, see that's what I'm like, I'm like Maverick from Top Gun, I push the edge continuously. So sometimes there will be some collateral damage, whether it's the kart, whether it's my body, whether it's the competitors I don't know, nor do I care, so …

Race 1

Q: First race down, so what are the formula 1 bosses thinking now?
MG: Well they're probably thinking there's a guy who knows how to push, not only push through the envelope but destroys the envelop which I did lap 2 ...

Testing the limits, probable slightly too far beyond the limits and spinning off on lap 2 isn't potentially the way I wanted to go about it, but you know you've got to know your limits, I know the limits now, its good racing strategy. It's a 5 race event so I'm pacing myself, I know what I'm doing.

Q: How did you find your first start?
MG: From what I remember before spinning off, it was all over very quickly, ah hectic, its quite hectic isn't it out there.

Lot of things happening, and all the strategy you come up with can, if your not strong enough mentally, fly out the window. Which is possibly you could argue what happened on lap 2 but I would still argue that it was more about testing the envelope.

Race 2

MG: Technically history will show last place and a fair way back but, but, but I actually had to forcibly slow myself down because I just think at this stage if I develop to quickly, you know what some formula 1 drivers and celebrities are like their ego gets to their head and I was worried that if I get to formula 1 in like a year my ego will just be out of control. So I thought just take a step back Matt, finish last, you know - take it step by step so next race I'll win.

Q: That was very hairy into the first corner?
MG: Was a little bit hairy, they're unpredictable, they're not professionals you see and it shows to be honest. They're very unpredictable.

Q: And how many laps could you keep up with them?
MG: Laps? ... Plural? … three quarters of a lap before I said look you guys, go, you have your fun, I'm just going to pace myself for formula 1.

Matt (right) with Peter Jackman - JMR Tony Kart

Day 2

Race 3

MG: Well it's going very well, the record shows that I've not been passed by one kart! Speaks for it's self.

… It's good not to get lapped in your first race meeting?
MG: Yeah, the slight issue has been that I've been last and therefore couldn't have been passed for position. But that was a lot better then it was yesterday, you know just pacing myself and improving, next race I'd like to think that I would finish maybe second last even. Big step I know.

Q: A lot, lot better then yesterday, they didn't disappear into the distance and you could see them still on the same straight, that's good.
MG: Well as we discussed I let them do that yesterday, didn't what to show them up, some of them have been driving for a few years but today I just thought nup screw em' you know, they need to know I'm coming so now's the time to pounce, like a cat, pounce.

Pre Final

MG: Passed a guy which was sensational ... but then there was a little bit of an issue with staying on the track and I managed to loop it, (that's a technical term for any of you kids), loop it coming on to the straight very fast and smash into the tyres.

Matt: Passed a guy which was sensational...

MG: But that's again just pushing that envelop, I'm not here to have fun I'm here for war. That's what it is out there Peter it's a war and I'm willing to have some collateral damage along the way, if that happens to be myself and my body then that's what I'm willing to do.

Q: Can we expect improvement next time?
MG: Will I improve for next time, undoubtedly, without question. The spin or racing in general?

Q: Racing. But I don't think we've seen the last spin?
MG: No, no neither do I. Well that was a good one wasn't it, right into the tyres.

Q: It was good. So you're picking up the pace, getting better every race, a marked improvement on yesterday and hopefully on the money moving forward?
MG: Yeah well exactly right, exactly right, now as you know I've got a firm focus on formula 1 within 2 years, however I can't complete the Final because I've got to go pick up my girlfriend. Now that may happen in formula 1, I may have to say look sorry guys I can't do the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend because I have to go pickup my girlfriend, but if that happens it happens.

Q: Wasn't that what happened to Kimi Raikkonen last year?
MG: Yeah, yeah he was drunk on a boat I think and forgot ...

...Yeah but we'll be right for the next race meeting.

Thanks to JMR Tony Kart and sportscamera.com.au