Over the course of the year, we’ll be profiling our 2025 driver field so you get to know who they really are. To start things off over the next week and a half, we’ll be taking a look at the five rookie drivers that took to the track at Sandown. First up – Mathew Basso.

Mathew was a true rookie in every sense of the word. He was a last minute call-up to the Akurra Motorsport team after one of their drivers withdrew through illness. With Friday his only opportunity to test and get acclimatised before official proceedings kicked off, it was a steep learning curve for the youngster.

A deluge from the heavens mean qualifying was wet, but brought out all the skills from his karting exploits leaving him an outstanding 5th on the grid – right behind the four drivers that would be fighting for the podium spots all weekend.

Unfortunately, Mathew would go on to retire from the first two races of the weekend following two trips to the gravel trap at the end of the back straight – a very easy part of Sandown to get caught out at. The 2nd of those visits resulted in weekend-ending damage, which meant he didn’t start the final race of the weekend.

We’re hoping to see Mathew back in the Formula Vee field at some point in the not too distant future. Behind the smiling face and blonde locks is a determined young man looking to make an impression and while the weekend didn’t ultimately end the way he would have liked it to, everyone has to start somewhere!