Matthew Griffin grew up in Blarney, Co. Cork and began racing in 1993 in cadet class karting at the young age of eleven. Within a year Matthew had won his first racing trophy – the “Phillips” for the most improved driver of the year.

By 1995, Matthew was making even more progress, finishing third in the Irish National Junior Intercontinental A (J.I.C.A.) Championship and going on to win ten out of twelve of the 1996 Irish National J.I.C.A. Championship races.

Matthew competed extensively in 1997, racing in the “McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future” Championship, where he finished eighth, racing in “MRCI” Winter Series Formula A champion, and later in the Irish Kart Grand Prix, which he won.

Finishing eleventh overall in the British Formula A Championship in 1998, Matthew went on to compete in the European I.C.A. Championships becoming the first Irishman to do so. He also held on to his title, winning the Irish Kart Grand Prix for the second consecutive time.

In 1999 Matthew competed in the British and European Formula A championships, winning round four of the British Formula A Championship and was at third in the British Championship, when injury stopped his campaign at round five. He was later invited to compete in the Monaco Kart Grand Prix, but was denied a podium finish due to an engine seizure.

Matthew put his educational commitments first in 2000, when he took most of the year off from racing to write his leaving cert. He kept his finger on the pulse of racing though, contesting selected rounds of the British Formula A Kart Championship and competing in the Formula Renault Winter Series with Manor Motorsport. Matthew also made the time to test in Albecete, Spain for Manor Motorsport and out of thirteen drivers was offered a seat for the 2001 Championship.

Having graduated from Bruce College, in 2001 Matthew spent the full season in the Formula Renault British Championship with multiple Champions Manor Motorsport (the team who guided F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen to the Championship in 2000). He finished fifth overall in the

Championship, improving throughout the year from qualifying sixteenth at the first round to qualifying second at the last. He also received the Elf Driver of the Race award twice. And although Matthew finished seventh in the Spa Formula Renault Festival, he did in fact set the third fastest time in 2001.

Last year Matthew contested the British Formula Renault Championship for the second year and after starting the season as strong favourite he was hampered by an uncompetitive car. However, Matthew still managed to impress with strong performances such as qualifying on the front row of the grid at round 5 and receiving the Motorsport News “Race Ace’ Award.

A partnership with Morgan and the Aero 8, for the 2003 season sees Matthew competing in the Le Mans 24 hour race as well as competing in the 2003 British GT championship.

Matthew works-out with a personal trainer who trains many Formula 1 drivers, doing Intense Physical Training, as it is essential for him to be in peak physical condition for races.

With an apartment outside Silverstone for racing purposes and a home in Blarney, Matthew spends his spare time travelling between England and Ireland.

Achievements

• Won first trophy within a year of starting his racing career
• Became the first Irishman to compete in the European ICA Karting Championship
• Winner of the Irish Kart Grand Prix
• Competed in the prestigious Monaco Kart Grand Prix Invitational Race
• Awarded the Motorsport News "Race Ace" Award whilst competing in the British Formula Renault Championship
• Joined the racing elite by securing a seat for the 2003 Le Mans 24 Hours with the works Morgan team driving the Morgan Aero 8