Matthew Parry, who will make his car-racing debut on Saturday in the opening round of the 2011 Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain, has been invited to join the AirAsia Team Lotus driver development programme. The Cardiff-based 17-year-old will be the only British driver on the scheme, which has been established by the Anglo-Malaysian Formula 1 squad Team Lotus with the aim of nurturing young talent.
Parry has a string of kart racing championship titles to his credit but his car experience so far has been limited to test outings in his Fluid Motorsport Development-prepared Van Diemen.
“The chance to link up with Team Lotus is fantastic,” said Matthew. “It is not the sort of opportunity which comes along every day, and I am very fortunate that Team Lotus and AirAsia have decided that I am worth backing. I am looking forward to making full use of the experience and facilities on offer to me as I make the transition from karts to cars.
“Having tested regularly with the Fluid Van Diemen I am already excited about the year ahead, and confident that with the support of Team Lotus and AirAsia it can be a successful season.”
The driver development programme was unveiled in Malaysia, and is overseen by former F1 driver Alex Yoong, who said of Parry: “I believe that Matthew shows all the hallmarks of a very talented driver, and am excited to have signed him as part of the AirAsia Team Lotus Driver Development Program. We will provide Matthew with advice and guidance throughout his debut season with Fluid Motorsport Development in Formula Ford, and will look forward to sharing in his success.”
Matthew is one of 10 drivers worldwide adopted by the scheme; it is planned that each will be given physical and mental training to aid their race preparation, as well as being given an insight into the inner workings of an F1 team.
Parry has impressed many with his speed and skills in pre-season testing. “It is fantastic that such a promising young driver should be awarded this career-enhancing opportunity by AirAsia and Team Lotus,” said Sam Roach, of Formula Ford Championship promoter RacingLine. “Formula Ford has produced 10 Formula 1 World Champions over the years, Jenson Button being the most recent, and approaching 100 Grand Prix drivers. I very much hope that Matthew Parry, and some of his rivals on the 2011 grid, will follow in their wheeltracks.”
Parry started his competition career at age eight, on two wheels, and moved into karts two years later. He won the Formula Kart Stars championship in 2009 and was last year crowned Super 1 British Champion, a feat which earned him number one status in the Motorsport News annual ‘Fast 50’.
The 24-race Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain gets underway at Silverstone this weekend (9/10 April), with a 20-car grid expected.
