Motorsport: Ferrari ace Matt Griffin enjoying return to his roots

Having built his racing career in Northampton and within earshot of Silverstone, Matt Griffin is content with life following his decision to return to his native Leeside from where he continues his globetrotting motorsport career as a professional Ferrari factory-racing driver.

Based in Ballincollig, he is more than happy with his lifestyle that still centres on training at a very high level. “I often cycle out to Macroom and other places like Passage West and when the weather is too inclement, I use Dennehy’s Gymnasium here in Ballincollig,” he says.

The former Motorsport Ireland International Driver of the Year winner notches up another milestone this week-end as he and teammate Duncan Cameron debut the new Ferrari 488 GT3. The pair onboard the No 52 AF Corse entered the car to compete in the first round of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at Imola. It replaces the ultra successful Ferrari 458 GT3 that has been raced since 2011. Free practice tomorrow will be followed by qualifying on Sunday morning with the three-hour race beginning at 3pm local time.