April 30th 2023 will see the start of a new GAZ Shocks 116 Trophy season, and myself and Matty Street will be pairing up to join the grid for the forthcoming six-round calendar with drivers tested in a team endurance format heading to five iconic UK tracks, including the opening race at the “Home of British Motorsport,”… Silverstone.
Matty has been a big brother figure and mentor to me since I first walked in to Teamkarting nine years ago, and was by my side throughout the BBC documentary “My Life on the Fast Track” which followed my journey progressing from karting to cars. The story leads up to my car racing debut at Brands Hatch age just 14. I then went on to race my first full season of sprint races in Junior Saloon Car Championship last year, but my ultimate dream has always to race endurance at the Le Mans 24hr in an LMP one day.
So... over the winter break we have been working hard on the next steps in the direction of longer races similar to the ones I race on the simulator. This meant trading up the Junior Saxo to a One Series BMW, and preparing over the winter break to join the 116 grid as their youngest competitor, just two weeks after my sixteenth birthday, (in fact I have only just recieved my upgraded race licence). A lot of hard work has gone into the new livery and we revealed it at Matty’s indoor karting venue recently, while hosting one of our regular Autism Friendly karting evenings. We have also given you the opportunity to get your name on the roof of my racecar right here in my shop. www.sandro19.co.uk/product-page/name-on-roof
Huge thanks to everybody who has already shown their support. To show my appreciation I will also be making a live draw after every round for a lucky someone to receive a gift.
Photo credit CGUK https://www.instagram.com/boothy_46/
I am also really happy to have the continued support of Adam Kluj Transport, Nurburgring Tours, and Arthur Morgan Kitchens going into the 2023 season, along with some new brand partners which I will be introducing on socials. And I am also looking forward to displaying my car at JPC Specialist Motorsport events this year, including their flagship Smiles for Miles event at Croft on 26th August. https://www.jpcspecialistmotorsports.com/events/jpc-smiles-for-miles-2023/
I am hoping to put the skills gained through my ten years of racing experience to good use, and will once again be visiting some of the UK's iconic racetracks, although this will be my first time racing in a rear wheel drive car. I have also raced with Matty before as part of the #RacingWithAutismUK kart team at various events including a 24hour race, and take part in longer races online too, regularly driving multiple two and three hour stints as part of a team.
“I’m really buzzing about the season alongside Matty, as he’s pretty much like an older brother to me, and so excited about the new challenge of competing in the 116 Trophy. Matty is an amazing driver and mentor, and was also my tutor for my ARDS test, helping me out a lot, plus his BMW 116 was the first car I ever drove, so I know that I can continue to learn with someone I can really trust.” “Endurance racing is the direction I want to take, and it’s going to be a big challenge to race a totally different car, in a longer race format. I’m putting in a lot of time on the sim, along with an exercise program”
Matty Street has already had proven success in racing, especially with Team BRIT in the Britcar Endurance Championship Trophy class in previous years, and makes a welcome return to competitive action this year in between a very busy schedule. His current workload includes owning and running a successful UK karting team in the form of X-Kart, the Team Karting indoor facility in Rochdale plus many other projects, but he is very much looking forward to getting back in a race suit to compete at some great tracks.
“To be honest, I am just really happy that I’ve got another chance to get back behind the wheel. It has been a lot of hard work to get back into this, and I am so pleased that the opportunity involves teaming up with Sandro" “The excitement is climbing up another level as we get closer to the beginning of the season. We’ve known each other for so long, and it felt like the perfect fit for us to get to race together as a team and for me to continue to help him develop as a racing driver” “Sandro and his family have also worked so hard to get to this stage of his career as a racer. The fact that this is now happening just is testament to all those long days and weekends away racing. I’m just so proud of what he’s done so far.“
Stay tuned throughout the season for further news as it happens about this dynamic duo teaming up for a great season racing on a huge grid which includes some BTCC legends.
2023 GAZ Shocks 116 Trophy Calendar:
30/04/2023 – Silverstone National 21/05/2023 – Brands Hatch Indy 25/06/2023 – Croft 30/07/2023 – Snetterton 20/08/2023 – Silverstone International 07/10/2023 – Oulton Park
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