MSUK Certified Coach Shawyer Helping Drive Hillspeed Development Forward
First class driver development has always been core to the offering provided to its customers by leading single-seater team Hillspeed, and that key service has been further bolstered by team coach Matt Shawyer attaining official Motorsport UK accredited status recently.
Markham Vale-based Hillspeed, a multiple race winner in this year’s GB3 Championship partnered by the BRDC, brings well over 50 years of experience from all manner of disciplines and has, over the decades, worked with some of the sport’s most highly regarded young racers.
Shawyer has been a central part of the team since 2006, the former BRDC Formula Ford Champion having helped to drive Hillspeed’s already highly respected driver development further forward in his role as professional driver coach.
Now having attained prestigious Motorsport UK accredited status, after passing the Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Motorsport, Shawyer’s qualifications further enhance what Hillspeed is able to provide to drivers wishing to embark on racing in GB3.
Delivering expert on-track driver coaching, simulator coaching, analysis and engineering insight for the team for the thick end of two decades in a variety of championships, Shawyer’s newly achieved qualification confirms the absolute quality of the service provided by the team.
Arguably, the Derbyshire based outfit – which is a championship winner in Formula Renault, Ginetta Junior and at Formula 3 level – has created and continues to enhance an offering which is one of the very best in national motor racing.
Just a glance at the talent which has progressed from Hillspeed’s ranks underlines the point, drivers who have gone on to carve out outstanding careers in racing including the likes of 2017 British GT Champion and former Bentley works driver Seb Morris, two-time GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Champion Ahmad Al Harthy and reigning British Touring Car Champion Tom Ingram.
Shawyer’s track career began in karting, where he capped 10 years in the sport with title victory in the S2 National Karting Championship. He then won the inaugural Silverstone Racing School Scholarship, which was the springboard to winning the BRDC Formula Ford crown in 2004.
Graduating into Formula Renault UK, he attained BRDC Rising Star status and was named ‘Best Newcomer’ by Motorsport News. Taking his career overseas, racing Formula Renault in China, he returned to the UK and became a podium finisher in Formula Renault BARC.
Coaching soon became his focus, becoming a full-time part of Hillspeed’s operations two years later and working with drivers in single-seaters, saloon cars and sportscars. Currently, of course, the team is in the midst of its GB3 Championship campaign where first year competitor Daniel Mavlyutov has achieved three race victories so far, with team-mate Gerrard Xie having taken a season-best fourth.
Richard Ollerenshaw – Hillspeed Team Principal:
“We really are incredibly proud of all Matt has achieved in coaching while working as an integral part of the Hillspeed family, to have attained Motorsport UK accredited status really is a fantastic achievement. Matt’s expertise and knowledge is second to none, and his professionalism and insight is a key part of the offering we are able to make to young drivers focused on climbing the ranks. We have always strived to give the very best service to our customers, and Matt’s coaching is one of the most important parts of that.”
Matt Shawyer – Hillspeed Driver Coach:
“Having turned to professional coaching in 2006, I was really pleased to complete the MSUK Coaching Course this year – it’s a standard that’s very much needed in motorsport. It enabled me to share my experiences and learn from others and further my coaching knowledge for the benefit of my drivers.
“Working with Hillspeed has been my main focus for many years and, for me, it’s allowed me to really concentrate on a select few drivers and programs to maximise their performance with the team. We have always done things a bit differently to other teams, focusing on the drivers and their needs one-to-one. Every driver is different mentally, physically and emotionally, and it’s adapting to each character and driving style which I really enjoy. With that approach, we’ve achieved great results and championships together along the way.”
