Sunshine Coast’s leading kart racers uncovered

After dominating their Australian rivals the next generation of high-speed talents, who could enter the V8 Supercars or Formula 1 circuits with a bang, have been uncovered.

Sunshine Coast CXR Racing team. Pictures: Patrick Woods.

The Sunshine Coast racing scene is continuing to become a dominant force throughout Australia with an array of talents proving why they’re the next star on the rise.

The CXR Racing team, led by team manager Craig Matthews, is quickly becoming a powerhouse operation with drivers spread across the Sunshine Coast, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.

The Baringa-based team competes in the Australian Kart Championships which is a five-race series beginning on March 3 and finishing on August 27.

Matthews, who began karting as a kid before launching CXR Racing, said he had enjoyed the performances from his team.

“I was racing for a long time and then once my two kids got involved I started building engines which led to more and more customers,” he said.

“From there we started the team about six years ago and it’s just continued to grow and attract good drivers.”

CXR Racing team manager Craig Matthews. Patrick Woods.

The team would cater for around 20 drivers at national meets and up to 60 drivers at club events.

“We’ve got a mix from all around Australia as more and more people have shown interest in being in the team,” Matthews said.

“My two sons Jace and Declan do all of the driver training and then the testing, the tune and all of the data analysis we do together.

“We’re always trying to go faster and so in terms of engines we’d probably build 600 this year alone.”

CXR Racing talents, Jace Matthews, Jye Flynn, manager Craig Matthews, Dominic Penman and Declan Matthews. Picture: Patrick Woods.

So far the drivers have competed at Murray Bridge in South Australia, Wanneroo in Western Australia, Newcastle in New South Wales and Ipswich in Queensland.

Round five will be contested from August 25-27 in Melbourne, Victoria where Jace Matthews appears likely to become the fourth diver to etch his name on the James Courtney Perpetual Trophy for a second time.

Previous standout winners include Jamie Whincup in 1999 and Mark Winterbottom in 2001.

The CXR Racing team also sit in fourth place on the team’s championship standings, 192 points behind first place.

We caught up with the team’s leading drivers ahead of this weekend's action.

CXR Racing

Jace Matthews

Age: 22

School: Unity College (graduated)

Racing since: 2010

Top achievements: “My most recent achievements have come in the last two to three years, winning two national titles in a row and aiming to win it again this year,” he said.

Favourite professional driver: “I love watching Formula 1 so Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso would be my two favourites,” he said.

CXR Racing talent Jace Matthews. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“My dad was always racing when he was young and we would always go to the track and watch him,” he said.

“I just loved it, loved the adrenaline rush and have been hooked ever since.”

Matthews said he had enjoyed his time with the CXR Racing team.

“I really enjoy the team that we have,” he said.

“There’s a lot of care and it’s like a little family among the sport which I think is one of the best things about it.

“Everyone gets in and helps each other and we have a good time whether we have a good or bad weekend results wise.”

He hoped to make it to the elite level.

“I’d love to be following any sort of motorsport career and would ideally like to be getting paid to race in any form,” he said.

Jye Flynn

Age: 13

School: Pacific Lutheran College

Racing since: 2019

Top achievements: “Podiums at the Australian Kart Championships in Perth, poll position for the Australian Kart Championships at Ipswich and a State title winner in Townsville,” he said.

Favourite professional driver: “I follow Cam Waters, he’s probably one of my biggest idols,” he said.

CXR Racing talent Jye Flynn. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“All the competitors and racing against everyone is really fun,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying the sport at the moment and would like to just keep improving on my karting in the next few years.”

Declan Matthews

Age: 20

School: Unity College (graduated)

Racing since: 2010

Top achievements: “My proudest one would've been the race of stars in 2016. It was a one off event with a huge field and some top names like Jack Doohan and Broc Feeney and the winner took home a surfboard. I beat them and I beat my brother so I was stoked with that one. Then more recently my two state championships, one in 2020 and one this year, which were both pretty big,” he said.

Favourite professional driver: “Oscar Piastri. We used to race him in Australia and he comes from a nice family, is a nice kid and deserves everything he’s achieved so I enjoy watching him do well.”

CXR Racing talent Declan Matthews. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I started out because my brother and my dad did it so I thought I would give it a crack and just liked the thrill of going fast like every kid does,” he said.

“Then when you’re not winning you’re constantly working harder to win and it’s a sport where no matter how good you are there’s always someone better which is what I like about it.”

Matthews works full time in the shop alongside his father and is also employed as a team driver coach.

“To be honest nowadays it’s about watching the younger drivers excel and seeing them achieve,” he said.

“My achievements aren’t much of a fuss now but for them it’s really cool to see them grow as a driver and watch them evolve in the sport.”

Matthews said he hoped to be running his own team in the future or working overseas.

Dom Penman

Age: 15

School: Suncoast Christian College

Racing since: 2015

Top achievements: “Pole position at the Victorian States before finishing second in the final. Winner of the KA4 (unrestricted) Ipswich Championships and second place in KA3 (small restrictor),” he said.

Favourite professional driver: Max Verstappen

CXR Racing talent Dominic Penman. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“I just love the speed, the racing and the karting mixed in with the people and the positive environment,” he said.

“Hopefully I’m still racing cars like Formula Ford or in the Super2 series.

“I was recently accepted into the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) camp in Malaysia to drive F4’s.

“Hundreds of kids applied for that so to be accepted is really exciting.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast’s leading kart racers uncovered