DRIVER NEWS:
Sport Wales recognises Parry potential
DRIVER NEWS 13
JULY 2011: Matt Parry's maiden single-seater campaign received
a welcome boost ahead of the Formula Ford EuroCup weekend at
Spa-Francorchamps, when Sport Wales finally confirmed that it
would be adding the youngster to its roster of elite talent.
Cardiff-born Parry
stepped up to Formula Ford after several successful seasons in
karting, which netted two national titles, as well as fourth in
the RGMMC Rotax Euroseries and second in the Rotax World Finals,
and has already been recognised as a potential star of the future
by both the UK motorsport press and the Team Lotus F1 operation,
which made him the lone British member of the AirAsia Team Lotus
Driver Development Programme.
The support, which
comes via the Elite Cymru scheme, is purely financial and was
awarded on the recommendation of the Welsh Association of Motor
Clubs. Arranged through the Williams Harfield Sports Group, the
backing will help with the cost of competing on both the UK and
European fronts with Fluid Motorsport Developments and Van Diemen
in 2011.
However, the onus
will now be on Parry to meet minimum agreed performance standards,
determined by both Sport Wales and the National Governing Body,
and continue to progress his career in a positive manner.
"It's great
news that Sport Wales has recognised my potential and decided to
back me in my efforts to climb the motorsport ladder," Parry
commented, "Obviously, it has helped being among the few
Welsh drivers making the headlines, but I am honoured to have been
included on the Elite Cymru scheme along with some of the biggest
names in Welsh sport. The support will make a big difference to my
season, and I will do everything I can to justify Sport Wales'
faith in me and continue to progress in the junior formulae."
Ironically, the
first race weekend to follow the announcement proved to be one of
the most frustrating of Parry's young career, as he was twice
denied the opportunity to challenge for the podium at
Spa-Francorchamps.
Defying
unpredictable weather conditions to confirm the promising
performance he had shown in testing at the Belgian
Grand Prix venue,
the 17-year old qualified strongly and finally appeared to be a
threat to the established frontrunners. Right from the start of
race one, he latched on to the lead group, shuffling up and down
the order as the sextet indulged in a typical Formula Ford battle.
At one point in contention for a podium position, Parry eventually
found himself back in sixth place, but was thoroughly encouraged
by his performance.
Sadly, the rest of
the weekend was not to go his way. Despite knowing that he was
competitive enough to contend for the silverware, Parry found
himself shunted out of race two at the very first turn, and then
had a similar mishap at the Bus Stop chicane on the opening lap of
race three, both times remaining entirely blameless for the
contact. He demonstrated his fighting spirit by recovering from
the back of the field to finish 14th in the third and final race,
still on the lead lap but with his times showing the effect of
damage sustained in the collision.
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