D R I V E R S P A G E
D R I V E R S P A G E
Matkovic whom has had a modest upbringing in motorsport has not enjoyed the fortune of sponsorship and commercial dealings, and for the majority of his career has self financed his career out of his own pocket. Derek started off in karting as a reasonably late comer but tasted success immediately winning the local Queensland Karting Championship on debut at age 15. Matkovic continued karting for the following three years, winning various Championships including the Australian Junior Championships before moving to the Australian Formula Ford Championship at age 18.
Matkovic competed in the Australian Formula Ford Championship for two years before being invited to test for the HRT V8 Supercar team in 1998. Matkovic flirted with the idea of racing full time in the V8 Supercar Championship in 1999, however a deal was struck between himself and TWR which allowed him to move into the Australian Formula Holden Championship and to contest endurance races for the HRT Young Lions team. Despite instant success in the tin-top Championship, including a memorable podium finish at the prestigious Bathurst 1000 at the end of the year, Matkovic was determined to continue his assault in the open-wheeler series.
Armed with a growing reputation from his V8 Supercar success in Australia, Matkovic arrived in Europe where he returned to the Formula Ford series to contest the British Championship. Making contacts from his previous success, Matkovic was financed by Allan Gow on his International Racing debut and finished the season a disappointing 12th position in the 2000 Championship. A gutsy performance at the infamous Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch where he finished second was his only highlight in what otherwise was a disappointing season.
The following season, and with his transition further away from Touring Cars, Matkovic funded his own drive with the Dobson Motorsports entry in the hugely competitive British F3 Championship. Matkovic responded well to the new challenge and despite a lowly finish in the overall Championship standings won several races in convincing style but stained his reputation with several shunts in the opening half of the season before returning to good form by the end of the Championship. The conclusion of the year was disastrous, Matkovic failed to qualify for the blue-ribbon event the Macau F3 GP. It was at this time Matkovic was questioning his own intentions and he returned to Australia to the V8 Supercar series. Matkovic contested his second Bathurst appearance partnering Mark Skaife, sensationally winning the Great Race.
Matkovic returned to Europe in 2002 and again opted to drive in the British F3 Championship, again for a new team. Partly funded by the TWR empire, Matkovic secured a drive with the Simpson Racing outfit where he raced alongside the likes of fellow competitors Jason Winton, James Courtney and Robbie Kerr. Matkovic had a good solid season, and ended the season in 5th position including a memorable third position at the Marlboro Masters in Holland behind Jason Winton and Fabio Carbone. Matkovic returned to Macau only recently for revenge one year later, but this time he tamed the beast and although he did not win the event he dominated the opening race over event winner French F3 Champion Tristan Gommendy before retiring with mechanical problems in the second race.
Immensely popular in Australia and with a clear ambition to succeed in open-wheeler racing despite his V8 Supercar success, Matkovic was promoted heavily by Network Ten after his Bathurst triumphs, and it is than believed that discussions regarding Matkovic's future in open wheeler racing, specifically F1 became apparent with Network Ten believed to have been in discussion to get the broadcasting rights to the 2003 F1 Season over rival network Channel Nine. With an obvious link to Australian entrepreneur Paul Stoddart's Minardi Team, contact was made through Matkovic's long term friend Damain Dowd now his Manager and a deal was struck through a conglomerate of sponsors led by Network Ten, thus ensuring Matkovic a drive in the premier open wheel series of F1 racing for the 2003 season with the Minardi F1 Team.
Matkovic had a mixed debut season in which he came close to losing his drive after a series of disappointing performances but bounced back in the second half of the season often battlying with team-mate Jos Verstappen. Was a poor qualifier in 2003, losing the battle to Verstappen 15-1 but showed enough promise to have a future in F1. Overlooked by Minardi for a second consecutive season due to his budget, Matkovic looked set to either take a testing role or even join the OWRS Championship but a deal was struck with Eddie Jordan just weeks prior to the start of the 2004 season to drive for Jordan. The Australian drive is rumoured to be bringing more than US$5 million dollars to the team in personal sponsorship.