Elmvale, Ontario – The BARC Ontario Grand Prix made for a wet and rainy event for all the CASC Ontario competitors and fans.

With the Vallis Motorsport team and Matt Garwood Racing debuting their new Formula 1200 car this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park the team and driver were expecting to battle for a win.

Saturday morning the field took to the track for Formula 1200 qualifying. Matt was eager to get on track and go for what was expected to be a pole challenging run. That all changed when a few laps in a tire failed entering turn 8 causing a quick end to the session.

The rain arrived just in time for race 1 which in turn caused for tensions to be high, it was a huge unknown as to what the track conditions were like. Entering corner one the field was very tentative as cars were sliding all round the track. On lap one Matt got pushed causing the car to come to a stop off track. Matt rejoined the race immediately and started his march through the field in the wet conditions and eventually ending up finishing in a displeasing 8th place.

Sunday morning brought on even more rain and the plan was similar to survive and make our way to the front! Race 2 the team started in fourth position as we quickly made our way to third in the opening laps. A few laps later entering turn three while under braking Matt went off track. According to Matt, “the car just wouldn’t turn and I was along for the ride in to the tire barrier”. This would be Matt Garwood Racings first DNF in over three years of competition.

The team quickly got to work and repaired the minor damage to the Formula 1200 and was ready to go for Race 3.

Race 3 had Matt starting at the back of the field. During the opening laps Matt had managed to battle his was up to 8th position where he had his eye on chasing down his teammate in the near distance. After a spirited battle with many drivers MGR managed to finish in 8th once again.

This was a very difficult weekend for Matt Garwood Racing and we look to regroup and prepare for round 3 of the Millers Oils Formula 1200 Championship at the second round of the U.S/Canadian Challenge Cup Series at Shannonvile Motorsport Park for the

Garwood is proud to represent; FEL (Franczak Enterprises Ltd.) Vallis Motor Sport, Core Evolution Fitness, Athletes Brand and Autoglym Canada and is also proud to be "Laps for Muscular Dystrophy" (Laps4MD) driver where he has pledged to donate $1 for every lap he leads to Muscular Dystrophy Canada.

To learn more about Matt Garwood and his racing program please visit www.mattgarwoodracing.com, www.facebook.com/MattGarwoodRacing and follow him on Twitter at @mattgarwood31.

About Matt Garwood

Matt is a 20 year-old race car driver from Elmvale, Ontario currently studying at the Automotive Business School of Canada. Matt competes in the Formula 1200 open wheel racing series and in the near future looks to jump from regional racing to a national level series such as the Canadian Touring Car championship. He is a 3-time Canadian Karting League Champion and the 2012 Formula 1200 Rookie of the Year.

www.mattgarwoodracing.com