WELCOME TO MLM | MATT LOCKWOOD
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Tasman Motorsports Group Signs Matt Lockwood as Development Driver
V8 SuperTourer Team, Tasman Motorsports Group (TMG) has signed Matt Lockwood as its development driver.
The role will see Lockwood getting full support from TMG as he campaigns the V8 Challenge Cup the main support category for V8 SuperTourers.
Lockwood currently leads the V8 Challenge Cup, after winning all three races in Round 1 at Hampton Downs in February.
Team Principal, Steve Horne says Lockwood is a star of the future and is pleased to get him onboard with TMG.
`Matt`s performance at the opening round of the V8 Challenge Cup was impressive he was fastest in every practice, qualifying and won all three races. He has all the attributes to go all the way and is one of the stars of the future. The team and I will work closely with him this year to progress him further as a driver,` said Horne.
In only his second year of motor racing Matt won the inaugural NZV8 Ute Series in 2008 and followed that up with a close second the following year. In addition he comprehensively won the New Zealand Mazda Pro7 Plus title for the last two years whilst racing in two classes, sometimes at the same race meeting.
Currently Lockwood is also the star and spokesperson for a television campaign supported by Arthritis NZ. The television commercial is raising awareness for Ankylosing Spondylitis, a form of Arthritis that Matt has.
Lockwood says signing with TMG is a huge move forward in his motor racing career.
`Steve and TMG have a pretty impressive international racing resume and I`m very excited and thankful for this opportunity,` said Lockwood.
`I really want to progress my professional motor racing career, TMG are a very professional and experienced team and will provide me with the best opportunities for my racing future.`
Horne says the teams future lies firmly on two cars for the 2013 V8 SuperTourer championship.
`We`ll move to two cars in 2013, I`ve planned this as a way to open the door for drivers like Matt to get to take the next step. I think I have shown in the past that I have been able to help young drivers get to the next level and beyond.
`Even I didn`t think Helio Castroneves would become a 3 time Indy 500 winner when he drove for me in Indy Lights!`
The signing of Matt Lockwood follows the recent announcement of Daniel Gaunt as the driver of the TMG Ford FG Falcon V8 SuperTourer.
For further information:
Steve Horne - Team Principal, Tasman Motorsports Group.
Ph 027 680 5946 Email: sghorne@gmail.com
Freddy Foote PR & Communications Manager, Tasman Motorsports Group.
Ph 0274 960 260 Email: freddy@f2communications.co.nz
Racing season has come around once again and Matt has a very exciting year ahead of him.
There is a brand new racing series in NZ that begins this year called the V8 Supertourers. This series is fast becoming NZ`s premier class of motor racing with the likes of Greg Murphy, Steven Richards, Craig Baird, John McIntyre, Kayne Scott, Andy Booth, and many more well known drivers taking part.
The Supertourers will have their first round on February the 18th, 19th at Hampton Downs. There will be several support classes such as the Central Muscle cars, Honda series and the V8 Challenge Cup.
The V8 Challenge Cup is made up of the cars previously running as BNT NZV8`s and they will feature as the main support category for the Supertourers.
At this stage Matt has confirmed a couple of sponsors which will allow him to do the first three of five rounds in this series. He will be running Craig Baird`s car from last year with his ex winning V8 Ute Championship team as support crew. `I am very excited about being involved in this new series and it`s fantastic to be driving an ex winning championship car.`
The V8 Challenge Cup is a great feeder class to the Supertourers. The Supertourers will have three endurance rounds at the tail end of the season. Each main driver will choose a co driver for that weekend so I hope I will be involved in those three rounds.
The first official test day for the V8 Supertourers and the V8 Challenge Cup cars will be held on February the 10th at Hampton Downs.
This weekend just passed Matt raced in the Mazda Pro 7 Plus series at Hampton Downs. He won this series in 2009 and 2010. This was a one off round for him to get some racing miles at the track for two weeks time. `I managed to get 3 race wins for the weekend and set a new track record for the class. Great little boost of confidence and preparation for two weeks time!`
Matt has just been chosen as the new spokesperson for a Television Campaign supported by Arthritis NZ. The Television Commercial is raising awareness for Ankylosing Spondilitis which is a form of Arthritis which Matt has. There are two TVCâs that are being played over various sky channels for the next month until mid August 2011. Matt is also an ambassador for Arthritis NZ along with Mahe Drysdale and Neemia Tialata, he hopes that he brings some inspiration to those that may be affected as he continues to live his dream. He is now on the hunt to find business partners to support him into the BNT NZV8âs this coming season starting in November.
To find out more about matt click below to go to his facebook page or go to arthritis NZ website. Links to the two TVC`s are below also.
An emerging talent in New Zealand motor racing took on the best in New Zealand in the 2009/10 NZV8 Touring Car Series. Matt Lockwood, a young twenty three year old now living in Auckland, was determined to make his mark on this series after a short but very successful career to date. He finished the three rounds that he contested as top rookie with two podium race finishes and 9th overall in the final two meetings.
In only his second year of motor racing Matt won the inaugural NZV8 Ute Series and followed this up with a close second the following year after leading the series until the last meeting when he was taken out in the second to last race. In addition he comprehensively won the New Zealand Mazda Pro7 Plus title for the last two years whilst racing in two classes, sometimes at the same meeting.
