The annual Victorian Speedweek Series is regarded as the toughest week for Formula 500 drivers in the country, and it’s an event that rewards consistency, which was the key to Matthew Symons’ victory in the recent 2015-16 season running of the event.
After finishing inside the top 10 of the feature races at all six rounds, which included a win at the Western Speedway round and a pair of second-place finishes at the Southern 500 Speedway and Premier Speedway rounds, Symons finished on top of the final Victorian Speedweek Series point standings ahead of South Australian Angelo Karoussis and fellow Victorian Terry Rankin in second and third place respectively.
In only Symons’ fourth season in Formula 500s after he graduated from Junior Sedans, the Speedweek Series is by far his greatest victory, which he credits mainly to his consistency.
“There are no two ways away, the Speedweek Series is all about consistency, and I was able to do that best and was rewarded with the overall win,” expressed a jubilant Symons, who finished last season’s Speedweek point standings in ninth.
“Heading into Speedweek, I was aiming for a top-five finish overall, but as the week moved on, the more my confidence grew and I knew that I was in contention for the overall win.”
Symons’ highlight of Speedweek was without question his round-four victory at Western Speedway, which in the process gave him the point standings lead that he never lost from there on.
“Winning Speedweek was great, but to get my first feature-race win along the way was very special too,” the 21-year-old from Simpson in country Victoria said.
“Prior to Speedweek, I hadn’t really achieved a lot in my previous three seasons in Formula 500s, apart from a third-place finish in the Victorian Title in my first season, so it was awesome to break through for my first major win this way.”
Apart from consistency, Symons credits his Speedweek form to a brand-new Hyper that he brought out at the beginning of this season.
“My new coil-over suspension Hyper has been strong straight out of the box,” he enthused.
“During the off season, we decided to go with the coil-over setup, and we had been getting better and better with every outing so far this season.”
Symons is next going to be in action this Saturday night at Borderline Speedway (Mount Gambier, SA) for Formula 500 Blue Lake event.
Symons in the 2015-16 season is proudly sponsored by: Heytesbury Handyman, Barry Francis Motorcycles Hamilton, Glenora Farms, Monk & Sons Contracting, Webber & Civil Fertilisers, Vogels Motors, and Simpson Hotel. Special thanks: Alan (Dad), Pauline (Mum), Colin and Matty Drayton, Sam Mason and Kelsey Strickland.
To find out more about Symons, LIKE him on Facebook by searching Matthew Symons Racing.
-ENDS-
Matthew Symons Media Enquiries: Daniel Powell from Redline Media
Mobile: 0432 126 210
Email: daniel@redlinemedia.com.au
Website: www.redlinemedia.com.au
