Off the back of a hot run of form at the last round of the Australian Kart Championships, Mathew Basso Racing packed their bags for the long trek north to contest round three in the Central Highlands of Emerald. Having displayed such incredible speed previously, the team were somewhat tentative whether this would translate on a track they’re unfamiliar with – but remained optimistic in their pursuit for glory.

Before a wheel was even turned the team were forced on their back foot, with the opening practice sessions plagued by engine issues. Placed a dismal 55^th after practice, heads were down within the camp as they hoped they could turn the tide. After an improvement in the final timed practice sessions, Mat rolled into qualifying as the circuit’s bright lights engulfed the track. In a stunning display of sheer speed and skill, Basso lit up the timing charts to record pole position on top of the field – the first in his impressive career to date!

‘The Castrol Kid’ was in scintillating form, bringing his very best to the tropics of Queensland. The heats were fierce, Basso slipping in the opening two heats with a 5^th and 6^th respectively. It wasn’t long before the heavens opened in typical Queensland fashion, with tumultuous rain bombarding the circuit. Mathew took to it in Senna-esque fashion, clinching victory in Heat 3 in commanding style!

After the combined points from the first three heats, Heat 4 was upon us – mayhem from the get-go as the entire field took to the drenched circuit on slick tyres. Mathew had been beaten around from pillar to post in multiple incidents, crossing the line a frustrating 15^th before dropping another two places due to a front-bumper infringement.

The team knew that the P17 finish in Heat 4 would impact their starting position for the final, with Basso relegated down to start P6. Despite having dropped down the order after the tremendous pole-lap, Mathew was still confident he had the racing speed to take out the event. Lights out and we were racing, 42-karts storming into the opening corner with Basso getting the jump on his competitors – up into P5. The laps wound down, Basso with the afterburners on as he made a lunge for 4^th place. Basso continued his rampage, punching out champion-like consistency to try reel in the leading pack with the others right on his tail. 5 to go, Basso slipping to 5^th place eyeing off a top 5 finish in the class for the weekend. White flag at the ready signalling one more lap and it was knives out for the last of the top 5 positions, a three-way tussle with Basso in the thick of it. In a nail-biting finish, Basso crossed the line in 7^th place, less than a second separating 5^th to 7^th!

Whilst wanting to snare the last of the top 5 places, Mathew and team were ultimately rapt with their result, bringing home their goal of a top-10 finish amongst a world-class calibre of drivers.

Mathew was elated with his performance, with this to say after the racing: “The weekend was fantastic once we sorted out the engine issues. I have to tell you that things were looking pretty bleak for me until the issue was resolved. Grabbing pole position is something that I will remember forever and winning a heat in the wet was really special too. I’m sitting in 11^th in the championship at the moment so we will need to perform in a few weeks’ time at Round 4 in Coffs Harbour if I am to finish the series in the top 10 which was my personal goal coming into the championship”.

As always, Mat and team would like to thank their valuable supporters: Mathew would like to thank his sponsors: Marco Motorsport, Castrol Racing, Morris Finance, UNIT Clothing, NGK Spark Plugs, Raceline Motorsports Racewear and OMP, Atlas Neck Braces, Oakley Australia, Platinum Potions, Ethika, PREPD Hydration, Albek Luggage, Alkaline World, 808 Dude, New Balance and MotiV8 Training for all their support.