We are proud to welcome professional racing driver Matteo Ferrer-Aza as an ambassador for The Ehlers-Danlos Society. As part of our global May Awareness Month, Matteo is launching the Drive for EDS and HSD campaign to raise awareness of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD).
The campaign kicks off this weekend, May 9–11, 2025, at the ADAC Hockenheim Historic – Das Jim Clark Revival, where Matteo will take to the track for those living with EDS and HSD, especially those still fighting to be heard, diagnosed, and cared for.
Matteo’s Story
30-year-old Matteo Ferrer-Aza began racing in 2012 with no previous driving experience. His talent and determination quickly propelled him through the ranks, from Intersteps Formula BMW to Formula Renault, and eventually to podiums on international circuits, including Monaco.
In 2019, Matteo won the FIA Masters Historic Formula One Post-1978 Championship – Head and Lauda Classes – collecting four wins, seven podiums, and two pole positions in a standout season. In 2023, he transitioned to GT racing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland with Phoenix Racing, and he is preparing to step up into GT3 racing by 2026.
Racing with EDS
During the winter racing season, Matteo had a small off-track incident during a Formula Renault race where his car struck a curb, became airborne, and landed heavily. The impact sent a jolt through his spine and briefly rendered him unconscious, prompting a full medical evaluation.
This incident led Matteo to consultations with hypermobility specialists, where he received a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome from Professor Rodney Grahame at The Hypermobility Unit in London. It was a turning point: Matteo had unknowingly lived with EDS his entire life—experiencing fatigue, overextension injuries, and chronic pain without understanding why.
With the guidance of his mentor Peter Collins, Matteo developed a personalized approach to managing his condition, incorporating Bowen therapy, a controlled diet, and consistent rehabilitation. These routines became essential to his ability to remain competitive on the track.
While Matteo’s EDS remains manageable, it requires constant upkeep. Following the 2019 season, he was also diagnosed with two cervical disc protrusions, which added a further challenge to his racing journey. After months of treatment, he was able to return to form, but maintaining his health continues to be a daily discipline.
Through the “Drive for EDS and HSD” campaign, Matteo is using his platform to raise awareness of delayed diagnoses, invisible pain, and barriers to care that too many in the EDS and HSD community face. He races for every person who’s been told their symptoms are in their head. He races for those who can’t.
Join us this May and support Matteo’s journey. Because every lap, every voice, and every donation drives change.
📣 Follow Matteo’s story on Instagram @ferrerracing
