Basso Caps Off Rookie Season with Gold Coast Podium and Championship Runner-Up Honours
16-year-old Mathew Basso finishes second overall and first Rookie at the Gold Coast 500, wrapping up an impressive debut Aussie Racing Cars season.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA, VICTORIA – Young Australian racer Mathew Basso has finished his debut Aussie Racing Cars season on a high, claiming second overall and first in the Rookie class at the Gold Coast 500, along with runner-up honours in the 2026 Rookie Championship.
Driving the #81 Ford Mustang for Corish Motorsport, the 16-year-old showed strong pace throughout a challenging weekend on the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit.
After recording P2 in practice and qualifying seventh, Basso finished fourth in Race 1 before recovering from contact and damage in Race 2 to charge from 25th to 12th.
Sunday brought torrential rain and extremely poor visibility, but Basso climbed from 11th to fifth in Race 3 before securing P2 in the final race, just 0.18 seconds behind winner Diesel Thomas.
“The Gold Coast is such an awesome track to race on, even if the weather made things pretty interesting!” Basso said.
“In the wet race, I was actually looking out the driver’s window just to see where the track was! To finish the weekend on the podium was a pretty cool way to end the season.”
A standout rookie year
The Gold Coast result capped off an impressive first season, including multiple podiums, two race victories and an outright round win at The Bend.
Basso finished second in the Rookie Championship despite contesting only four of the five rounds, having missed the Bathurst season opener.
“It’s been a massive year. Getting my first wins at The Bend was definitely a highlight, but I’ve learnt so much every round.
“A huge thanks to Corish Motorsport, the entire crew, my engineers, sponsors, family and everyone who’s helped me get here. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Next stop: New Zealand
Basso now turns his attention to the Bridgestone Toyota GR86 Championship in New Zealand, having recently been awarded the 2026/27 Wolfbrook Motorsport Foundation Scholarship.
He will join James Marshall Motorsport for the championship, beginning at Taupō International Motorsport Park in November.
“I’m really grateful to Wolfbrook for the opportunity and can’t wait to get back to New Zealand. New car, new challenges and hopefully plenty more good racing ahead!”
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Media Enquiries
Mathew Basso Motorsport
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