Matt George
{{About|the racing driver|the NFL player|Matt George (American football)|the Internet personality|Mat George}}
{{Short description|British Professional Racing Driver}}
{{Infobox racing driver
|name=Matt George
|image=Matt George, British Endurance Championship, 2023.jpg
|caption=Matt George, British racing driver, British Endurance Championship 2023
|birth_place=Cheltenham, England
|current series=GT4
|first year=2016
|current team=Venture Innovations
|car number=21
|former teams=Generation AMR
SuperRacing
|best finish=
|prev series=Hankook 24HR Series
British Endurance (BEC)
JCW Mini Challenge
GT Masters
Gulf 12 Hours
British GT Championship
FFSA French GT4
European GT4
|prev series years=2024
2023-2022
2022
2019
2019, 2017-2016
2019-2018, 2016
2018-2017
2017
|titles=Hankook Barcelona 24hrs
British Endurance GT4
Gulf 12 Hours|title years=2024
2023
2017
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|df=yes|1995|07|16}}
}}
Matthew George (born 16 July 1995) is a multi championship winning British racing driver. He started his motor racing career karting in 2007, becoming Midland Karting Champion in 2010...{{Cite web |title=KARTING: Matthew George wins Midlands Championship |url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/8378573.cirencester-schoolboy-triumphs-at-rissington/ |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard |language=en}} before moving up to car racing in 2016.
George worked as a technician and driver coach at Base Performance Simulators,{{Cite web |title=Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing |url=https://www.britishgt.com/news/60/generation-amr-set-for-british-gt-return-with-superracing |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing}} a racing simulator company led by three-time Le Mans winning Aston Martin factory driver, Darren Turner. George coached Superdry co-founder James Holder at Base Performance,{{Cite web |title=Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing |url=https://www.britishgt.com/news/60/generation-amr-set-for-british-gt-return-with-superracing |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing}} working closely with him for six months before Holder made the decision to form racing team SuperRacing and signed George as the teams pro driver. George and Holder competed as a Pro-Am partnership within the British GT4 Championship, GT4 European Series,{{Cite web |last=sportscarracingnews |date=2019-07-11 |title=GENERATION AMR SUPERRACING'S ASTON MARTIN JOINS GT4 SOUTH EUROPEAN SERIES BARCELONA FIELD |url=https://sportscarracingnews.com/2019/07/11/generation-amr-superracings-aston-martin-joins-gt4-south-european-series-barcelona-field/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225182104/https://sportscarracingnews.com/2019/07/11/generation-amr-superracings-aston-martin-joins-gt4-south-european-series-barcelona-field/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Sportscar Racing News |language=en}} FFSA GT Championship,{{Cite web |title=A podium defining solo act from Matt George at Spa |url=http://www.the-advantage.org/2019/07/a-podium-defining-solo-act-from-matt.html |access-date=2023-04-05}} and Gulf 12 Hours.
George currently holds 5 GT4 lap records{{Cite web |title=Matt George |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/driver/matt-george/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} - Donington Park, Circuit Paul Ricard, Yas Marina Circuit and 2 at the home of British racing - Silverstone.
A notable moment within George's racing career has been his involvement in the Invictus Games Racing team,{{Citation |title=Invictus Games Jaguar is helping our heroes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx_4qw9jObI |access-date=2023-04-01 |language=en}} helping a select group of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) British Armed Forces veterans to compete in the 2018 British GT Championship.{{Cite web |last=Club |first=Jaguar Enthusiasts' |date=2023-04-05 |title=Winning start for Invictus Games Racing F… |url=https://jec.org.uk/news/2019/winning-start-for-invictus-games-racing-f-type |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club |language=en}}
Invictus Games Racing
A select group of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans of the British Armed Forces competed in the 2018 British GT Championship as part of a motor racing team in specially designed Jaguar race cars.
Invictus Games Racing was a collaboration between James Holder and the Invictus Games Foundation.{{Cite web |title="Invictus Games Racing" Compete in 2018 British GT Championship – Invictus Games Foundation |url=https://invictusgamesfoundation.org/invictus-games-racing-compete-at-2018-british-gt-championship/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-GB}} The team's mission was to give (WIS) servicemen/woman the chance to experience the adrenaline of competitive racing embracing the ethos of the Invictus Games of triumph over adversity.
Mission Motorsport, The Forces' Motorsport Charity, held trials to select four drivers from the Armed Forces who were best suited for the experience.{{Cite web |title=INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR {{!}} Jaguar Media Newsroom |url=https://media.jaguar.com/2018/invictus-games-racing-launches-gt4-spec-jaguar-f-type-svr |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=media.jaguar.com}} George and professional racing driver Jason Wolfe were then partnered with the amateur drivers to mentor and coach them as is protocol in the British GT Championship series.{{Cite web |title=INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR {{!}} Jaguar Media Newsroom |url=https://media.jaguar.com/2018/invictus-games-racing-launches-gt4-spec-jaguar-f-type-svr |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=media.jaguar.com}} George coached Steve McCulley and Paul Vice who raced in car 44,{{Cite web |title=INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR {{!}} Jaguar Media Newsroom |url=https://media.jaguar.com/2018/invictus-games-racing-launches-gt4-spec-jaguar-f-type-svr |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=media.jaguar.com}} while Jason coached Ben Norfolk and Basil Rawlinson in Car 22.
The bespoke Jaguar's were the first SVO-designed race cars to hit a race track,{{Cite web |title=INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR {{!}} Jaguar Media Newsroom |url=https://media.jaguar.com/2018/invictus-games-racing-launches-gt4-spec-jaguar-f-type-svr |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=media.jaguar.com}} adapted for the four (WIS) drivers allowing them to compete equally with their able-bodied competitors.
George and McCulley came away with a double podium at Oulton Park in GT4 Pro-Am at the opening round of the British GT championship, winning race 1 and a 2nd place in race 2.
2016 season
= British GT Championship =
In 2016 George made his debut season car racing contesting in the 2016 British GT Championship{{Cite web |title=British GT 2016 Driver Profile - Matthew George |url=https://www.britishgt.com/driver/24/matthew-george |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=Matthew George}} competing as the Pro driver of an Aston Martin Vantage GT4, with James Holder as the Am driver.
= Gulf 12 Hours =
In December 2016, George went to the United Arab Emirates with SuperRacing to round off his debut season by competing in the Gulf 12 Hour Race{{Cite web |title=A reduced Aston Martin entry for the Gulf 12Hrs |url=http://www.the-advantage.org/2016/11/a-reduce-aston-martin-entries-for-gulf.html |access-date=2023-04-05}} at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, sharing the Generation AMR Aston Martin Vantage GT4 with James Holder & Britcar champion Chris Murphy. George set the fastest (GT4) qualifying lap of 2:20.697{{Cite web |title=Gulf 12 Hours 2016 - Qualifying Results - Racing Sports Cars |url=https://www.racingsportscars.com/results/qualifying/Yas_Marina-2016-12-17.html |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=www.racingsportscars.com}} putting the car on pole in the GTX category and setting the fastest lap of the race{{Cite web |title=Gulf 12 Hours - GTX 2016 standings {{!}} Driver Database |url=https://www.driverdb.com/championships/standings/gulf-12-hours---gtx/2016/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=www.driverdb.com}}
2022 season
= Venture Innovations =
George joined Venture Innovations{{Cite web |title=Matt George |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/driver/matt-george/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} - an engineering company who fabricate components for F1 cars{{Cite web |date=2021-11-15 |title=About - Venture Engineering |url=https://ventureengineering.co.uk/about/ |access-date=2023-03-27 |language=en-GB}} as a driver & team manager in 2022.
= British Endurance Championship =
Alongside managing the team,{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2022-12-07 |title=Venture's Vulcan Returns |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/venture-vulcan-returns/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} George contested the last 3 rounds of the 2022 British Endurance Championship{{Cite web |title=Matt George |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/driver/matt-george/ |access-date=2023-04-01 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} in a Mercedes AMG GT4 in class D, coaching co-driver Neville Jones through his debut GT car races. The duo had a podium finish in all three rounds entered and George attained two lap records.
Round 4 was George and Jones first BEC race, the pair picked up the points for 2nd place in Class D and George received the Sunoco Driver of the Day award.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2022-06-20 |title=Round 4 Report: Marrs Today Worked, Rested, and Jackson Played to the Win |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/round-4-report-marrs-today-worked-rested-and-jackson-played-to-the-win/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} for becoming the new GT4 Qualifying Lap Record holder with his qualifying lap of 2:08.556
George stood on the podium again for round 5 at Donington in October where the team collected top points in their Mercedes AMG due to the class winners being an invitation team.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2022-08-22 |title=Round 5 Report: Mercedes 1-2 After Penalty Shoot-out |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/round-5-report-mercedes-1-2-after-penalty-shoot-out/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} George became the new GT4 Lap Record holder at Donington Park with a lap time of 1:34.856 on the GP circuit.
The team closed their race season with another class D 2nd place finish in round 6 at Donington to make it a 3 out of 3 podium finish{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2022-10-25 |title=Round 6 Report: Marrs and Jackson Win the Race and Seal the Title |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/round-6-report-marrs-and-jackson-win-the-race-and-seal-the-title/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}}
2023 season
= British Endurance Championship =
As well as managing the 2 car race team, George contested a full season with team Venture Innovations in the British Endurance Championship in the Mercedes AMG GT4 with co-driver Neville Jones and his son Chris.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2022-12-22 |title=Venture Motorsport Bring Mercedes AMG GT4 to BEC |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/venture-motorsport-bring-mercedes-amg-gt4-to-bec/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} This was Chris' debut GT car racing season and Neville's first full season.
Round 1 at Silverstone seen the team start the race in 20th position due to a challenging qualifying, George made up 8 places and the team finished 2nd in class.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Chris |date=2023-03-27 |title=Race Report: Round 1 - Bovet and McDonald Take the Win |url=https://www.british-endurance-championship.com/race-report-round-1-bovet-and-mcdonald-take-the-win/ |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=British Endurance Championship |language=en-GB}} George became the new Silverstone GP GT4 Lap Record Holder with a time of 2:09.403.{{Cite web |date=25 March 2023 |title=2023 British Endurance Championship Round 1 - RACE CLASSIFICATION |url=https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=BARC/2023/231221rc1bec.pdf}}
George and the team clinched the class D (GT4) championship in the final round at Donington Park as well as coming just short of winning the overall title by 4 points.{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=Dom |date=2023-10-21 |title=British Endurance Championship Donington: Thurston / de Leon win title |url=https://www.gt-report.com/2023/10/21/british-endurance-championship-donington-thurston-de-leon-win-title/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=GT REPORT |language=en-US}}
2024 season
= Hankook 24H Barcelona =
George competed in the Hankook 24 Hours of Barcelona with Venture Engineering, driving the Vulcan Fasteners Mercedes-AMG GT4.{{Cite web |title=Venture on LinkedIn: #creventic #24h #barcelona #champions #win #gt4 #mercedesamg #endurance… |url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/venture-engineering-ltd_creventic-24h-barcelona-activity-7241463867636072449-yxwc |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.linkedin.com |language=en}} This race marked the team's debut in the series, with George sharing the car alongside teammates Owen Hizzey, Chris Jones and Neville Jones. Despite the team's first appearance, they delivered a stellar performance, winning the GT4 classhttps://resultscdn.getraceresults.com/2024/24H%20Series/25th%20Hankook%2024H%20BARCELONA%202024/24H%20SERIES%20powered%20by%20Hankook%20-%20Race%20-%20per%20class.pdf in a thrilling and closely contested race.
George's contribution was particularly significant, as he spent two hours longer behind the wheel than any other driver in the race, showcasing his endurance and skill. The race remained competitive until the final moments, with George crossing the finish line just 1.011 seconds clear to secure their maiden 24H SERIES win.{{Cite web |title=Herberth Motorsport seals fourth event victory at the 25th Hankook 24H BARCELONA; end of an era for 24H SERIES powered by Hankook |url=https://www.24hseries.com/news/2024-hankook-24h-barcelona-race-results |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=24H Series |language=en}}
Lap records
= Race lap records =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Date !Circuit !Lap time !Team !Car !Class !Championship !Race |
| Dec 16, 2017
|Generation AMR SuperRacing |GT4 | |
| Oct 22, 2022
|Venture Innovations |GT4 |British Endurance Championship |Round 6 |
| March 25, 2023
|Venture Innovations |GT4 |British Endurance Championship |Round 1 |
= Qualifying lap records =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Date !Circuit !Class !Lap time !Team !Car !Championship !Race |
| June 1, 2019
|GT4 |Generation AMR SuperRacing |Round 4 |
| June 6, 2022
|GT4 |Venture Innovations |British Endurance Championship |Round 4 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:George, Matt}}
Category:Sportspeople from Cheltenham
Category:British GT Championship drivers
Category:GT4 European Series drivers