WORCESTERSHIRE driver Tim Matthews returns to fully competitive racing this season after three years in the wilderness.

The veteran ace has tackled only a handful of races since 2007 when he finished second in the UK Sports 2000 ‘B’ Championship.

Matthews, now in his 50s, has been racing since he was 15 but needed a potentially life-saving heart operation in 2008.

Providing he can find sufficient financial support, Matthews aims to team up with Welsh-based race car manufacturer MCR for an outright attack on the UK Sports 2000 Derek Bell Trophy.

He said: “Finding time to get fit and race was at a premium and, after losing my international licence because of my heart problem, I thought my racing days might have been over.

“Thankfully, after strenuous testing, the Motorsport Association gave me back my national licence and I managed to do a couple of races last year. I applied for my international one again at the beginning of this year and I’ve got it back so there is no excuse not to have a go.

“The Nuffield Heath and Wellbeing Club have renewed their sponsorship with me for 2010 and it does enable me to train hard and regularly, hopefully avoiding any further heart issues.

“So far, things are going well and my fitness level is getting back to where I was three years ago.

“I know that between the ages of 21 and 60 your fitness level should in theory change by as little as 10 per cent but I think the various racing accidents I’ve had over the last 20-odd years have taken their toll.

“Still, if I can get back to the level I reached in 2001 when I drove in The European F1 Championship, I will be more than happy.”

While out of action, Matthews instructed novice drivers for Anglo American Racing and developed a major road safety initiative due to be launched next month. He added: “The last three years have been all about hard work and making sure the road safety scheme we’ve been developing was tested and fully endorsed.”

Matthews will race to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and to publicise the ‘Student Intelligent Driver Campaign’ aimed at saving the lives of young drivers, their passengers and other road users.

He also hopes to compete in a 24-hour race at Silverstone later this year and possibly the Le Mans 24-hour in 2011.

To celebrate his return and help the foundation, ‘Matthews, He’s Back’ T-shirts are available at aaruk.com or by calling 01299-250927.

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