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Matt George

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This article is about the racing driver. For the Internet personality, see Mat George.
Matt George
Matt George, British racing driver, British Endurance Championship 2023
Born (1995-07-16) 16 July 1995 (age 29)
Cheltenham, England
GT4 career
Debut season2016
Current teamVenture Innovations
Car number21
Former teamsGeneration AMR
SuperRacing
Previous series
2024
2023-2022
2022
2019
2019, 2017-2016
2019-2018, 2016
2018-2017
2017		Hankook 24HR Series
British Endurance (BEC)
JCW Mini Challenge
GT Masters
Gulf 12 Hours
British GT Championship
FFSA French GT4
European GT4
Championship titles
2024
2023
2017		Hankook Barcelona 24hrs
British Endurance GT4
Gulf 12 Hours

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...[1] before moving up to car racing in 2016.

George worked as a technician and driver coach at Base Performance Simulators,[2] 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,[3] working closely with him for six months before Holder made the decision to form racing team SuperRacing[3] and signed George as the teams pro driver. George and Holder competed as a Pro-Am partnership within the British GT4 Championship,[4] GT4 European Series,[5] FFSA GT Championship,[6] and Gulf 12 Hours.

George currently holds 5 GT4 lap records[7] - Donington Park,[8] Circuit Paul Ricard,[9] Yas Marina Circuit[10] and 2 at the home of British racing - Silverstone.[11]

A notable moment within George's racing career has been his involvement in the Invictus Games Racing team,[12] helping a select group of wounded, injured and sick (WIS) British Armed Forces veterans to compete in the 2018 British GT Championship.[13]

Invictus Games Racing

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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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] George coached Steve McCulley and Paul Vice who raced in car 44,[17] 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,[18] 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.[13]

2016 season

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British GT Championship

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In 2016 George made his debut season car racing contesting in the 2016 British GT Championship[4] competing as the Pro driver of an Aston Martin Vantage GT4, with James Holder as the Am driver.

Gulf 12 Hours

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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[19] 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[20] putting the car on pole in the GTX category and setting the fastest lap of the race[21]

2022 season

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Venture Innovations

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George joined Venture Innovations[22] - an engineering company who fabricate components for F1 cars[23] as a driver & team manager in 2022.[24]

British Endurance Championship

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Alongside managing the team,[25] George contested the last 3 rounds of the 2022 British Endurance Championship[24] 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.[26] for becoming the new GT4 Qualifying Lap Record holder with his qualifying lap of 2:08.556[26]

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.[27] George became the new GT4 Lap Record holder at Donington Park with a lap time of 1:34.856[8] 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[28]

2023 season

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British Endurance Championship

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As well as managing the 2 car race team,[25] 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.[29] 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.[30] George became the new Silverstone GP GT4 Lap Record Holder with a time of 2:09.403.[11]

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.[31]

2024 season

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Hankook 24H Barcelona

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George competed in the Hankook 24 Hours of Barcelona with Venture Engineering, driving the Vulcan Fasteners Mercedes-AMG GT4.[32] This race marked the team's debut in the series, with George sharing the car alongside teammates Owen Hizzey, Chris Jones and Neville Jones.[32] Despite the team's first appearance, they delivered a stellar performance, winning the GT4 class[33] 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.[34]

Lap records

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Race lap records

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Date Circuit Lap time Team Car Class Championship Race
Dec 16, 2017 Yas Marina Circuit 2:20.941[10] Generation AMR SuperRacing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 GT4 2017 Gulf 12 Hours
Oct 22, 2022 Donington Park GP 1:34.856[8] Venture Innovations Mercedes AMG GT4 GT4 British Endurance Championship Round 6
March 25, 2023 Silverstone GP 2:09.403[11] Venture Innovations Mercedes AMG GT4 GT4 British Endurance Championship Round 1

Qualifying lap records

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Date Circuit Class Lap time Team Car Championship Race
June 1, 2019 Circuit Paul Ricard GT4 2:12.193[9] Generation AMR SuperRacing Aston Martin Vantage GT4 GT4 European Series Round 4
June 6, 2022 Silverstone GP GT4 2:08.556[35] Venture Innovations Mercedes AMG GT4 British Endurance Championship Round 4

References

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  1. ^ "KARTING: Matthew George wins Midlands Championship". Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  2. ^ "Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing". Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  3. ^ a b "Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing". Generation AMR set for British GT return with SuperRacing. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  4. ^ a b "British GT 2016 Driver Profile - Matthew George". Matthew George. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  5. ^ sportscarracingnews (2019-07-11). "GENERATION AMR SUPERRACING'S ASTON MARTIN JOINS GT4 SOUTH EUROPEAN SERIES BARCELONA FIELD". Sportscar Racing News. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  6. ^ "A podium defining solo act from Matt George at Spa". Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  7. ^ "Matt George". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  8. ^ a b c "2022 British Endurance Championship - Round 6 - CLASSIFICATION" (PDF). Oct 22, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup - Round 4 - Qualifying 1 Results" (PDF). June 1, 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Gulf 12 Hours 2017 - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  11. ^ a b c "2023 British Endurance Championship Round 1 - RACE CLASSIFICATION" (PDF). 25 March 2023.
  12. ^ Invictus Games Jaguar is helping our heroes, retrieved 2023-04-01
  13. ^ a b Club, Jaguar Enthusiasts' (2023-04-05). "Winning start for Invictus Games Racing F…". Jaguar Enthusiasts' Club. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  14. ^ ""Invictus Games Racing" Compete in 2018 British GT Championship – Invictus Games Foundation". Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  15. ^ "INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR | Jaguar Media Newsroom". media.jaguar.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  16. ^ "INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR | Jaguar Media Newsroom". media.jaguar.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  17. ^ "INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR | Jaguar Media Newsroom". media.jaguar.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  18. ^ "INVICTUS GAMES RACING LAUNCHES WITH GT4-SPEC JAGUAR F-TYPE SVR | Jaguar Media Newsroom". media.jaguar.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  19. ^ "A reduced Aston Martin entry for the Gulf 12Hrs". Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  20. ^ "Gulf 12 Hours 2016 - Qualifying Results - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  21. ^ "Gulf 12 Hours - GTX 2016 standings | Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  22. ^ "Matt George". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  23. ^ "About - Venture Engineering". 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  24. ^ a b "Matt George". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
  25. ^ a b Valentine, Chris (2022-12-07). "Venture's Vulcan Returns". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  26. ^ a b Valentine, Chris (2022-06-20). "Round 4 Report: Marrs Today Worked, Rested, and Jackson Played to the Win". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  27. ^ Valentine, Chris (2022-08-22). "Round 5 Report: Mercedes 1-2 After Penalty Shoot-out". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  28. ^ Valentine, Chris (2022-10-25). "Round 6 Report: Marrs and Jackson Win the Race and Seal the Title". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  29. ^ Valentine, Chris (2022-12-22). "Venture Motorsport Bring Mercedes AMG GT4 to BEC". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  30. ^ Valentine, Chris (2023-03-27). "Race Report: Round 1 - Bovet and McDonald Take the Win". British Endurance Championship. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  31. ^ Vincent, Dom (2023-10-21). "British Endurance Championship Donington: Thurston / de Leon win title". GT REPORT. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  32. ^ a b "Venture on LinkedIn: #creventic #24h #barcelona #champions #win #gt4 #mercedesamg #endurance…". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  33. ^ https://resultscdn.getraceresults.com/2024/24H%20Series/25th%20Hankook%2024H%20BARCELONA%202024/24H%20SERIES%20powered%20by%20Hankook%20-%20Race%20-%20per%20class.pdf
  34. ^ "Herberth Motorsport seals fourth event victory at the 25th Hankook 24H BARCELONA; end of an era for 24H SERIES powered by Hankook". 24H Series. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
  35. ^ "2022 British Endurance Championship QUALIFYING - CLASSIFICATION" (PDF). TSL. 2022-06-18.
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