Draft:Mathew Basso

Mathew Basso
Nationality Australia Australian
Born2010 (age 15–16)
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia
Formula Ford career
Debut season2017 (Karting)
Championships12 (Major Series & Titles)
Awards
Victorian State Champion (2023)
4x Australasian Kart Title Winner
City of Melbourne Champion (2024)

Mathew Basso (born 2010) is an Australian racing driver currently competing in international open-wheel formula racing. A prominent figure in the Australian motorsport "Karts to Cars" pathway, Basso is a multi-time national and state karting champion. He is best known for his dominant 2023 season where he secured the "Triple Crown" of Victorian karting. In 2026, he moved into the Formula Ford category, establishing himself as one of the leading rookies in the Australasian region.

Early life

Basso was born and raised on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. He became obsessed with motorsport at the age of 2, and after watching Disney's movie Pixar Cars he always had dreamed of becoming a race car driver (like his hero Lightning McQueen). He showed an immediate aptitude for racing and great understanding towards mechanical sports, starting competitive karting in 2017. He balanced his early racing career while attending Woodleigh School, where he became known for his disciplined approach to both academics and athletics.

Karting career

Basso's ascent through the Australian karting ranks involved stints with the country's most prestigious teams and manufacturers, including Tony Kart Australia, Melbourne Kart Centre, Pro-Karting, Sera Driver Development, DPE, and Marco Motorsport. These partnerships allowed him to develop a sophisticated understanding of chassis dynamics, develop further as a driver and have maximum support.

Driving style and technique

Basso is noted for a high precision driving style focused on minimal steering input and smoothness on the wheel to maintain chassis balance, utilising advanced trail braking and refined throttle control to produce extreme lap-time consistency and efficient tire management. This technical discipline has been a defining factor in his career success; notably, during his 2023 Victorian State Championship win, he was the only driver across all categories to secure pole position and lead every lap of every heat and the final. His ability to maintain "train-track" consistency, often hitting sector times within milliseconds over long race distances, has allowed him to manage high-pressure defensive situations and successfully transition from karting to the technical demands of open-wheel Formula racing.

Junior Categories (2018–2024)

Basso's junior career is among one of the most decorated in recent Victorian history. After winning the Oakleigh Class Title in 2018, he secured his first major "Red Plate" at the Australasian Kart Titles in 2019. The 2023 season stands as a landmark in his career. Competing in the KA3 Junior Heavy category, Basso achieved what is colloquially known as a "Perfect Weekend" at the Victorian State Championships in Albury, claiming the Victorian State Title (Blue Plate). He concluded the year by winning his third Australasian Kart Title (Red Plate) and both the Victorian Country Series (In 2 seperate classes) and the Golden Power Series, cementing his status as one of the top ranked juniors in the state.

In 2024, he continued this momentum by winning the City of Melbourne Titles and securing his fourth Australasian Kart Title. He also achieved pole position in the Australian Kart Championship against the strongest junior competition in the country backing it up with several heat wins.

Senior Transition (2025)

In 2025, at the age of 14, Basso moved into the KA3 Senior category. As one of the youngest competitors in the field, he achieved significant success against veteran drivers, finishing his debut senior season ranked 9th in the Victorian Kart Championship and maintaining a top-10 national ranking throughout the year.

Car racing career

Formula Vee

Mathew Basso Driving a Formula Vee at Sandown

During 2025, while still actively competing in senior karting, Basso made his debut in circuit racing in the '''Formula Vee''' category. The appearance marked his first official race meeting in a car after years of success in karting. Despite limited testing and experience in the class, he adapted rapidly to the unique momentum-based style of Formula Vee racing.

His performance drew attention within the paddock due to his immediate pace and race craft, with several observers noting the similarities between Formula Vee driving techniques and high-level karting. The outing further demonstrated Basso's versatility across different forms of motorsport machinery.

Formula Ford (2026)

In January 2026, Basso transitioned into circuit racing by joining the NAPA New Zealand Formula Ford Championship. Racing for the Racing Project team in a Mygale SJ08A, he adapted quickly to high-speed international circuits and aerodynamic open-wheel racing.

Despite entering the category with limited car racing experience, Basso impressed throughout the season with his raw pace and technical feedback. He secured his first international podium finish at Timaru International Raceway during only his second competitive round, finishing third after battling with several experienced championship contenders.

He concluded the championship 5th overall with 638 points, making him one of the highest-placed Australian rookies in the field.

Aussie Racing Cars

Later in 2026, Basso announced his transition into the Aussie Racing Cars Championship with Corish Motorsport. He was confirmed to make his debut during Round 2 of the championship at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania, supporting the Supercars Championship event. Prior to his debut, Basso completed testing programs at both Sydney Motorsport Park and Queensland Raceway, where he displayed strong speed and consistency.

During private testing at Queensland Raceway, Basso reportedly recorded a lap time faster than the existing Aussie Racing Cars lap record at the circuit. The previous benchmark, set by Brenden Madden with a 1:29.9 lap, was reportedly eclipsed by Basso with a 1:29.7 time during testing sessions. Although unofficial, the performance generated significant attention within the category and further increased expectations surrounding his championship debut.

His transition into Aussie Racing Cars marked his first full move into closed-wheel circuit racing and represented another major step in his progression through the Australian motorsport pathway.

Public image

Basso has cultivated a significant public profile within the motorsport community. Often referred to as the "King of Social Media Content" in the karting paddock, he utilises digital platforms to provide a "behind-the-scenes" look at the life of a professional junior athlete. He is frequently cited as a role model for younger drivers due to his focus on sportsmanship and technical education.

Career record

Career summary

Season Series Class Position
2018 Oakleigh Class Titles Cadet 9 1st
2019 Oakleigh Club Champion Cadet 9 1st
2019 Victorian Metro Series Cadet 9 1st
2019 Australasian Kart Titles Cadet 9 1st
2021 Victorian Metro Series Cadet 12 1st
2021 New South Wales State Cup Cadet 12 1st
2022 Ultimate Club Racer Titles KA4 Junior 1st
2022 Australasian Kart Titles KA4 Junior 1st
2022 Victorian Country Series KA4 Junior 1st
2023 Victorian Kart Championship KA3 Junior Heavy 1st
2023 Australasian Kart Titles KA3 Junior Heavy 1st
2023 Victorian Country Series KA3 Junior (Light & Heavy) 1st
2023 Golden Power Series KA3 Junior Heavy 1st
2024 City of Melbourne Titles KA3 Junior Heavy 1st
2024 Australasian Kart Titles KA3 Junior Heavy 1st
2024 Australian Kart Championship Rd 3 KA3 Junior Pole Position
2025 City of Melbourne Titles KA3 Senior 2nd
2025 Formula Vee Appearance Formula Vee *
2026 NZ Formula Ford Championship Formula Ford 5th
2026 Aussie Racing Cars Championship Super Series *

References

Category:Australian racing drivers Category:Formula Ford drivers Category:2010 births Category:Living people

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