20 July 2009

MP/CLL09/09
For immediate release

PFI PERFECTION FOR PARRY

Matthew Parry continued his bid for the Formula Kart Stars Junior Max title with a second dominant performance in as
many rounds, this time in changeable conditions at PF International.

Having swept the board in round four at Rowrah, the Paul Carr Racing driver carried a healthy lead to Lincolnshire and
could have been forgiven for driving with one eye on the championship picture, but instead produced a show worthy of
a champion by easily taking both the Pre- and A Finals.

The introduction of the latest Rotax barrels produced some interesting lap times in Friday’s practice sessions, but the
PCR team was satisfied to see both Parry and new team-mate Hector Hurst among the pacesetters dipping under the 47-
second mark before Saturday’s qualifying produced the first drama of the weekend.

Having watched Ash Hand set a 46.78secs benchmark when the first qualifying group hit the track, Parry matched him
to the hundredth in group two. However, the youngster’s following only had seconds to enjoy the achievement as
closest rival Ollie Varney followed him across the line to steal away pole position with a lap timed a tenth quicker.

That left Parry third on the grid for the Pre-Final on Sunday morning but, despite the day dawning dry, a delay in
finalising the result of the Pre-B Final meant that the race was moved to the final slot on the morning timetable – and
into the rain.

Undeterred by the necessary set-up change on the grid, Parry made a storming start, and was leading by the first corner,
with Varney and Josh Parker assuming the positions immediately behind him. Without the problem of driving into
spray, Parry eased away, producing a strong wet-weather display to eventually cross the line nearly five seconds clear of
his rivals, despite his fastest lap being a little way off the best of the race.

Victory gave the Bury St Edmunds youngster pole position for the main event of the weekend and, despite the rain
intensifying, he duly produced an exact replica of his earlier performance, seizing the initiative on lap one and never
being headed.

Already ten kart lengths clear by the notorious second corner, Parry had doubled his advantage by the end of the
opening lap and continued to ease away throughout the 15 that followed. Although second-placed Jamie Fegan made
minor inroads into his advantage mid-race, Parry was always in control, and eventually crossed the line 5.25secs in
front of the pack after another flawless display.
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Accused by resident Stars commentator Henry Beaudette of making the racing ‘boring’, Parry insisted that things had
not been as easy as they may have appeared, despite the margin of victory.

“I really had to keep my concentration out there,” he explained, “Although I wasn’t under pressure from having other
karts around me, the conditions were very tricky and one lapse in concentration could have meant the end of my race.

“I’m delighted to have been able to produce two performances like those, especially so soon after our great result at
Rowrah, and they really help to strengthen our championship position. As usual, a big thank-you has to go to the Paul
Carr Racing team for giving me a great handling kart for the conditions.”

Eponymous team owner Paul Carr was on hand to witness the 15-year old’s dominant performance, and was moved to
comment on his success.

“Normally, my partner Rick May does the Stars rounds, so this is my first time here this season, but I am delighted to
have supervised one of Matt’s now-regular wins,” he commented, “I am very pleased for the boy, who has been driving
magnificently of late. Today’s races were near perfect – Matt did everything we asked of him and this is a great fillip for
our title ambitions.”

Parry’s busy summer continues this coming weekend (25-26 July) with a trip to the Czech Republic to contest the
fourth round of the RGMMC European Rotax Challenge at Sosnova, before returning to the UK for the PFI-based Kart
Masters on the first weekend of August and then heading to Belgium for the Formula Kart Stars at Genk (15-16
August).

Ends.

Picture caption: Matthew Parry maintained his frontrunning form in the Junior Rotax class of Formula Kart Stars
with double victory in the rain for Paul Carr Racing at PF International [photo credit: Chris Walker/kartpix.net].