MATTHEW WALL HANGS UP THE HELMET

Matthew Wall has announced his retirement from top-level racing (Pic: Coopers Photography)

One of Australian karting’s most accomplished drivers, Matthew Wall, has announced his retirement from top-level racing.

The 12-time National Champion has decided that last weekend’s round of the Australian Kart Championship will be his final race at the highest level of the sport.

Since beginning his career in 1991, Wall has raced in every State and Territory in Australia amassing a dozen Australian Championships and more than 40 State Championships.

His maiden National Championship came in the Senior National Light class at the 1997 Australian National Sprint Kart Championships in Gladstone in Queensland. He is the only driver to have won an Australian Championship in the National, Clubman, Formula 100, Rotax, X30 (formerly Leopard) and KZ2 divisions.

In addition to his success on Australian shores, Wall has also competed in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, SKUSA Super Nationals in Las Vegas and Yamaha Final in Japan. He was also victorious on two occasions in the CIK Trophy of New Zealand.

“Over the past few years retirement has been playing on my mind and I’ve decided that the time is now right,” said Wall.

Wall in action during the opening round of the 2015 Australian Kart Championship (Pic: Coopers Photography)

“For the past 23 years karting has been my life, and I’ve made so many lifelong friends throughout the sport.

“There are so many people who have helped me throughout my career, none more so than my Mum and Dad along with Anthony Bartolo of J&A Tuning. These three people have been the ones who have dedicated so much to my racing and I can’t thank them enough.

“I’d also like to thank my mechanics over the years, especially Craig, Wizzer, Muz and Les, who put so much into my career.

“Karting will still play a big part in my life and I look forward to seeing everyone at a track soon.”

Wall finishes his career equal third with Peter Ward on the all-time Winners List in Australian Karting with 12 National Championships to his name. Only David Sera (17) and John Pizarro (15) have won more National Championships.

MATTHEW WALL’S CAREER MOMENTS
1991 – First race, aged 12 years 11 months at ELKC’s Whittlesea track [Arrow] 1992 – First Club Day win Junior National Light – Brooklyn Vic [Silhouette] 1992 – Club Champion in Junior National Light
1994 – Club Champion in Junior National Heavy
1995 – Club Champion in Senior Sportsman
1996 – First State Championship win – Senior National Light – Albury/Wodonga [CRG] 1995 – First National Championship podium – Junior National Heavy – Dubbo, NSW [Arrow] 1997 – First National Championship – Senior National Light – Gladstone, QLD [CRG] 2001 – Rotax Light National Champion – Eastern Creek, NSW [Arrow] 2002 – World Rotax Finals – Champion Team (Wall and Darrell Smith)
2003 – Formula Australia Light National Champion – Ipswich, QLD [Azzuro] 2004 – Formula 100 National Champion – Puckapunyal, Vic [Arrow] 2005 – CIK Trophy of New Zealand Formula 100 Champion – Hamilton, NZ [Arrow] 2006 – CIK Trophy of New Zealand ICC (Gearbox) Champion – Hamilton, NZ [Arrow] 2006 – All Japan Yamaha Challenge Winner, Mobara Japan
2006 – Formula 100 National Champion – Bolivar, SA [Arrow] 2006 – Leopard Light National Champion – Bolivar, SA [Arrow] 2009 – Clubman Heavy National Champion – Townsville, QLD [Arrow] 2009 – Rotax Heavy National Champion – Eastern Creek, NSW [Arrow] 2009 – Formula 100 Heavy National Champion – Geelong, Vic [Arrow] 2010 – Pro Gearbox (KZ2) Champion – CIK Stars of Karting Series [Arrow/BRM] 2012 – Clubman Heavy National Champion – Darwin, NT [Arrow] 2012 – Rotax Heavy National Champion – Dubbo, NSW [Arrow] 2015 – Australian Kart Championship Round Two – Final Race at the top level