Round 1

The 2026 Series X3 NSW Championship commenced with Round 1 at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, 1 February. The off-season was a busy one for Matt, with extensive work completed on the car. This included stripping down the front end and replacing components such as brakes, wheel bearings, drive shafts, and control arms, along with a full repaint and wrap. Matt was extremely pleased with how the car turned out and is excited for the season ahead.

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Race 1:

Unfortunately, the weekend did not begin as planned. During qualifying, Matt was only able to complete one slow lap before encountering a gearbox issue that prevented him from selecting gears. Further investigation revealed a cracked clutch line, which caused fluid to leak every time the clutch was engaged. As a result, Matt was forced to sit out Race 1 while he and his dad worked to repair the issue in preparation for Race 2.

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Race 2:

Starting from the rear of the grid in P24, Matt faced a challenging task in Race 2. The race start was slightly delayed after a car stalled on the grid and had to be towed to pit lane. Once racing got underway, Matt made a strong start, gaining several positions and moving into the top 20 by the end of lap one. He continued to make steady progress through the field before a late-race safety car was deployed. By that point, Matt had climbed to P11, gaining a total of 13 positions. Despite the shortened green-flag running due to the delayed start and safety car, it was an impressive recovery drive, with Matt recording the fifth-fastest lap time of the race.

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Race 3:

Matt started Race 3 from P11 and again made a solid launch, moving into P9 by the end of the opening lap. He continued to push forward throughout the race, ultimately finishing in P6. The race featured an intense battle among four cars fighting for position, with Matt making a decisive move on the final lap to secure a strong result.

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Considering the difficult start to the day, Matt was very happy with the overall outcome. Both driver and car showed strong pace, providing confidence heading into the remainder of the championship. A huge thank you goes to Matt’s sponsors for their continued support: 313 Automotive, MediSleep, AYE Tech, and VMedical. Matt is also excited to welcome NA Media for the rest of the season, delivering outstanding photography. Special thanks as well to Series X3 NSW and MRA for a fantastic race meeting.

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Next Up:

Round 2 of the Series X3 NSW Championship takes place in just a few weeks at One Raceway on February 28, as part of the Wakefield 300 weekend. Matt is looking forward to returning to a circuit he feels particularly comfortable with and is eager to build on the momentum from Round 1. Hope to see you there!