Australian Joey Mawson enjoyed an almost perfect weekend at Round Two of the MRF Challenge in Dubai.

The PODIUM-backed driver secured pole position for both race one and three during qualifying, before going on to record four podium finishes from his four races.

After leading the early stages of race one, Mawson carded a pair of runner-up placings in the opening two encounters. He then battled with damage to his front wing in race three before crossing the line third.

After starting fourth, Mawson starred in the final 10-lap encounter slotting into second on the opening lap. He then found his way into the lead and drove away to claim the victory by 4.6 seconds.

This race win secured the 26th podium finish from the 35 races he contested throughout 2016.

“All in all it has been a great weekend and fantastic way to end the year,” said Mawson.

“There’s not really any better way to finish off the year, I got a race win and now have the championship lead going into the New Year.

“I really enjoyed the racing across the weekend and the track was great to drive on. It was a good flowing track and reminded me of some of the tracks I used to race on during my karting days.

“Dubai holds some very special memories for me, it was exactly five years ago when I finished on the podium at the Rotax World Karting Finals.”

The victory in race four elevated Mawson to the top of the championship standings. At the half way mark of the four-round championship, he holds a 28-point buffer over Harrison Newey in second.

The next round of the MRF Challenge is in New Delhi on January 26-28.

Australian Joey Mawson secured three podium finishes across four races on debut in the MRF Challenge at the Bahrain International Circuit.

The PODIUM-backed driver qualified second fastest on Friday before securing a pair of podiums with a second and third placing during the opening two encounters.

Saturday’s third race saw Mawson take full advantage of his front row start to lead the way until a Safety Car intervention midway through the race. On the first lap after the restart Ralf Aron got a tow on the back straight allowing him to use the aerodynamic advantage to make a pass. Mawson was then vulnerable to Mick Schumacher in third.

After fending off Schumacher’s challenge, Mawson set about chasing down Aron but was unable to do so in the short amount of laps.

In the final race Mawson was battling for his fourth podium of the weekend before an issue with the gear selector forced him to run wide dropping him to sixth, where he would eventually finish.

“It was a great experience, I feel that I learnt a lot across the weekend,” said Mawson.

“At the start of the weekend we found out that we were using stick shifters instead of paddle shift, so that was very different. Not just for me but for everyone, we all had to adapt quickly.

“I managed to come away with three podiums out of four races, it would have been nice to have had a win but to be right up there and show some really good speed is very pleasing.

“It was great to have some good close racing and I’m looking forward to the next round.”

After the first of four rounds, Mawson is third in the Championship standings on 61 points. Mick Schumacher leads on 75 ahead of Ralf Aron on 72.

The next event is in three weeks time (December 8-10) in Dubai.

Australian Joey Mawson has gained a surprise opportunity to compete in the MRF Challenge.

The four-event Championship will see the PODIUM-backed driver compete alongside the final round of the World Endurance Championship in Bahrain this weekend.

He will then tackle the Dubai circuit on December 8-10 ahead of the penultimate event in New Dehli on January 27-29 and the final event in Chennai on February 17-19.

Competing aboard a Dallara Formula 3 chassis powered by a 2.0-litre Mountune 250hp Duratec engine, the MRF Challenge will provide Mawson with a solid grounding towards his plans of competing in the European Formula 3 Championship in 2017.

“To compete in the MRF Challenge is a great opportunity, one that really came out of nowhere but one that I’m also really excited about,” said Mawson.

“It’s a great way to get accustomed to a Formula 3 car while learning some new circuits.

“Over the past four years it has developed into a great ‘Summer’ Series for drivers who are in a similar position as me looking to make the progression into Formula 3.”

All entries in the MRF Challenge are centrally prepared and managed, similar to what Mawson experienced while competing in the 2013 French Formula 4 Championship.

“Having everything centrally managed removes the need to be in the best team with the best equipment. Everything is equal and it comes down to working closely with the mechanics you’ve got and making the most of every opportunity,” said Mawson.

“Racing in France was a great experience and I learnt a lot, not only about the cars but myself also. I’m really looking forward to the opening event this weekend.”

This weekend’s event will be the first time Mawson has visited the Middle East since taking victory in the final round of the 2012 CIK-FIA World Under 18 Karting Championship.

Practice begins on Thursday morning ahead of qualifying in the afternoon. Friday’s action will be highlighted by a pair of races before the round is concluded with races three and four on Saturday.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Local Time
Thursday November 17
11:00 Free Practice 1
12:30 Free Practice 2
14:15 Qualifying

Friday November 18
10:40 Warm-Up
13:40 Race 1
16:10 Race 2

Saturday November 19
9:45 Race 3
11:55 Race 4

AEDT
Thursday November 17
17:00 Free Practice 1
20:30 Free Practice 2
22:15 Qualifying

Friday November 18
18:40 Warm-Up
21:40 Race 1
00:10 (Sat) Race 2

Saturday November 19
17:45 Race 3
19:55 Race 4

Australian Joey Mawson will make his debut on English soil when he competes in the British Formula 3 Autumn Trophy event at the Snetterton circuit this weekend.

The recently crowned 2016 German Formula 4 Champion will join the Douglas Motorsport outfit in a one-off appearance. He fills the seat that has been held by Thomas Randle throughout the year while his fellow Australian competes in an event in Spain.

The PODIUM-backed driver who won ten races on route to the German Championship is excited about the opportunity to compete in England this weekend.

“The opportunity came as a bit of a surprise, mentally I had already started to focus on the off season and onto winter testing. Now it’s quickly back to focusing on a race weekend,” said Mawson.

“It’s a great opportunity to be back in a car again and have a race meeting while learning a new track at the same time.”

The British Formula 3 cars are of a similar specification to the machines Mawson has campaigned during the past two years, with the major difference being a larger powerplant and more aerodynamics.

“I’ve never driven the BRDC Formula 3 car before, although there are some things that will be familiar like the Pirelli tyres,” said Mawson.

“It will be nice to drive a slightly faster car as I prepare for the next step in my career during 2017.”

Jamie Caroline, who won a race at the final round of the British Formula 4 Championship, will be alongside Mawson in the Douglas Motorsport garage.

Mawson will head to England from his base in the Netherlands on Wednesday before hitting the Snetterton circuit for the first time on Thursday.

The weekend format includes a qualifying session and two races on both Saturday and Sunday. The grid for the first race is set in qualifying order, with starting positions for race two of each day set by the fastest laps from race one.

Live Timing from the event will be available by clicking here (link: http://www.britishf3.com/)

Fresh from victory in the ADAC German Formula 4 Championship, Australian Joey Mawson has spent the past two days testing aboard a Formula 3 at Monza, Italy.

In an impressive run, Mawson traded fastest times with 2016 Formula Renault Eurocup and NEC Champion Lando Norris for the majority of the test.

The two-day hit out with the Van Amersfoort Racing outfit has left the PODIUM-backed driver eager to make the next step in his flourishing career.

“I got a bit of a taste of an F3 car last year in a test day but it was wet for the majority of the day, now with two full days in dry conditions I feel like I was really able to show some good potential,” said Mawson.

“The cars themselves are about 10 seconds a lap faster than the F4 cars I’ve been racing but I feel as though I adapted very well.

“To be able to mix it with drivers who had more F3 experience than me at the top of the timesheets was very pleasing.  It was also great to be able to work with the team on improving the car during the day.

“During the test I was able to refine my technique and I really felt comfortable by the end of the two days.”

While his 2017 plans are still to be confirmed, Mawson is keen to make the step into Formula 3 next year.

“Formula 3 is definitely the aim for 2017.  It’s now about getting everything in order to make that happen,” said Mawson.

Mawson will return to his base in the Netherlands tomorrow for several weeks before heading back to Australia for Christmas with his family in mid December.

Australian Joey Mawson has re-written the record books to become the first Australian driver to be crowned Champion in the ADAC German Formula 4 Championship.

The PODIUM-backed driver secured the crown with victory in the opening two races of the final round at Hockenheim.

After qualifying on the front row for the opening two races on Friday, Mawson was dominant on his way to victory in race one crossing the line six-seconds clear of Mike-David Ortmann.  His main Championship rival, Mick Schumacher incurred a penalty prior to the race meaning he started 23rd.  He would eventually finish sixth.

The young Australian then further stamped his authority on the Championship with his tenth race win of 2016 during a rain-interrupted second race.  Mawson was unfazed by the challenging conditions as he took the flag by 0.6 seconds from Thomas Preining and Kami Laliberte, while Schumacher was eighth.

After starting tenth in the reverse top ten final race, Mawson was edging his way closer to the front of the field before Lirim Zendeli made an ambitious passing maneuver on the Australian entering turn one on the fifth lap.  The pair made heavy contact damaging Mawson’s car which led to him spearing off the circuit and out of the race, Zendeli received a drive-through penalty for the incident.

“While the final race today didn’t go to plan, it’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve won the Championship,” said Mawson.

“Mick and I had a great battle all year long, we’ve certainly pushed each other hard on the track to make sure whoever ended up with the title had earned it.

“To be able to win the Championship for Van Amersfoort Racing is a great reward for everyone in the team who have given me so much support over the past two years.

“Being able to win it on Saturday relieved a lot of pressure on everyone, we could then really enjoy the second race before going into the final race of the year without the stress of the title on the line.

“If it wasn’t for Tom Warwick and Geoff Morgan and everyone else involved with PODIUM, this year would not have been possible.  I can’t thank them enough for their ongoing support.”

Mawson finished the year on 374 points, 52 clear of Schumacher in the standings.  Throughout the year he claimed ten race wins, 15 podium finishes and seven out of a possible 16 pole positions.

Mawson will remain in Europe until mid December to finalise plans for 2017 before returning to Australia for a brief period over Christmas.

Australian Joey Mawson takes a 39-point lead into this weekend’s final round of the 2016 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship at the famous Hockenheim circuit.

While the PODIUM-backed driver has led the way in the Championship all throughout the year, he is very aware that the job is far from being complete with Mick Schumacher lurking in second place in the standings.

“I’ve had a really good year so far but there’s still two practice sessions, one qualifying session and three races to go before the Champion is crowned,” said Mawson, who has won eight of the 21 races so far in 2016.

“I’ve really got to be on top of my game and can’t afford to slip up once. It’s 100% focus from here until Sunday night.”

Mawson, along with the rest of the Formula 4 contenders, took to the Hockenheimring this morning (Thursday) as a part of an official test day before the official proceedings for the final round kick off tomorrow.

“Hockenheim is a really cool circuit, it’s got a great amount of history and is one of the most challenging that we go to in the Championship,” said Mawson.

“I like the track, especially the fast corners. It offers good overtaking opportunities, and there will certainly be some great scraps out there.

“Having the extra laps today is very good and will allow us to try a few things before practice starts tomorrow.

“I’ll be taking the same attitude into this weekend as what I have been all year. Take one session at a time, do my best and the points will take care of themselves. It’s worked so far this year, hopefully it will work again this weekend and I’ll end up as Champion.”

In simple terms, the equation for Mawson to become Champion is that if Schumacher was to win every race and Mawson finish fifth or better the title is the Australian’s.

Mawson will take to the circuit on Friday morning for two practice sessions ahead of qualifying in the afternoon. The driver’s fastest time in qualifying decides the grid for race one and second fastest for race two. The finishing positions in the opening 30-minute race decide the grid for Sunday afternoon’s race three, with the top ten being reversed.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

LOCAL TIME
Friday September 30
9:00am Practice 1
10:45am Practice 2
1:55pm Qualifying Group A
2:20pm Qualifying Group B

Saturday October 1
9:05am Qualifying Race
12:00pm Race 1
3:35pm Race 2

Sunday October 2
3:00pm Race 3

AUSTRALIAN TIME
Friday September 30
5:00pm Practice 1
6:45pm Practice 2
9:55pm Qualifying Group A
10:20pm Qualifying Group B

Saturday October 1
5:05pm Qualifying Race
8:00pm Race 1
11:35pm Race 2

Sunday October 2
12:00am (Monday) Race 3
(inc. daylight savings)

Victory in the opening race of the weekend at the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands has ensured Australian Joey Mawson remains atop of the standings in the 2016 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship.

With one round remaining, and a maximum of 75 championship points up for grabs, the PODIUM-backed driver now sits 39 points clear of Mick Schumacher in the chase for the championship.

Competing at the Zandvoort circuit for the first time in his career Mawson qualified his Van Amersfoort Racing entry on pole position before going on to dominate the opening 30-minute encounter.

Mawson took full advantage of his front row start to open a 3.5 second lead within the opening half of the race, only to have it diminished by the deployment of the safety car mid-way through the race.  After the restart Mawson continued his dominance to cross the line almost two seconds clear of his nearest rival.

With his qualifying session being cut short by a red flag as Mawson was on his second flying lap he was forced to start race two from 12th position.  After making a good start he had moved his way up to eighth place and pressuring Thomas Preining for seventh in the second half of the race.  While attempting a pass the pair made contact that damaged Mawson’s front wing and he had to pit to have it replaced.  The final stages of the race were controlled by the safety car leaving Mawson to be classified 27th.

Heavy rain descended on the circuit prior to the start of race three leading officials to start the race under the control of the safety car.  After several laps under controlled conditions the green flag was displayed, only for the safety car to be again deployed less than a lap later.

A second attempt was taken for the race to resume before a multi-car pile up caused the race to be red flagged and declared after less than two laps of green flag conditions with half championship points awarded.  Just prior to the red flag being displayed Mawson had made his way past Schumacher and was on alongside Juan Manuel Correa who was in fifth position.  After being squeezed to the inside of the circuit Mawson hit a pool of water and aqua-planed off the circuit.

“I leave the weekend with very mixed feelings, it was great to get the win in race one but I wasn’t able to capitalise on our speed in races two and three,” said Mawson.

“Prior to the weekend I was conscious that qualifying well was going to be vital, with the red flag in my qualifying session it cost me a good starting position in race two but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  You win some, you lose some.

“I’ve now got 39 points between myself and Mick in the battle for the championship so it is really going to go down to the wire at Hockenheim.  I know we’ve had great speed all year long but there’s still three races to go before the champion is decided.”

With one round remaining, Mawson heads the standings on 324 points with Schumacher second on 285.  Mike-David Ortmann is a further 62 points further back in third place.

The final round of the championship will be held at Hockenheim on September 30-October 2.

Australian Joey Mawson will line up in the penultimate round of the 2016 ADAC German Formula 4 Championship at the Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands this weekend.

Fresh from a test day at the Dutch circuit recently, the PODIUM-backed driver is high in confidence entering the home event for his Van Amersfoort Racing team.

“I’m feeling very ready and excited for the weekend ahead. It’s a home race for the team so it’s going to be pretty special,” said Mawson.

“We’ll also have the F3 team there with us as they are competing in the Zandvoort Masters, so the entire Van Amersfoort crew will be in action at the one event for the first time this year.”

Mawson rates the Zandvoort circuit highly but believes the narrow confines means that qualifying will play a vital role towards the outcome of the weekend.

“Zandvoort is a special place, in my opinion it’s probably the best circuit we have in the championship this year. It’s a real old school circuit with not much run off. You get a lot of satisfaction when you put in a good lap,” said Mawson.

“Qualifying will be the absolute key, it’s a very difficult track to overtake on. It’s basically like a street circuit, so being up the front for the races will be vital.

“I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing all season long, aim for the podium and get as many points as possible.

“After a good test day last week I think we’re prepared as good as possible and prepared for any conditions, wet or dry.”

Mawson (297) leads Mick Schumacher (251) by 46 points in the standings with third placed Mike-David Ortmann a further 71 points adrift.

Mawson will take to the circuit on Friday morning for two practice sessions ahead of qualifying in the afternoon.  The driver’s fastest time in qualifying decides the grid for race one and second fastest for race two.  The finishing positions in the opening 30-minute race decide the grid for Sunday afternoon’s race three, with the top ten being reversed.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
LOCAL TIME
Friday August 19
8:40am Practice 1
10:40am Practice 2
2:45pm Qualifying Group A
3:10pm Qualifying Group B

Saturday August 20
12:00pm Race 1
5:45pm Race 2

Sunday August 21
10:20am Race 3

AUSTRALIAN TIME
Friday August 19
4:40pm Practice 1
6:40pm Practice 2
10:45pm Qualifying Group A
11:10pm Qualifying Group B

Saturday August 20
8:00pm Race 1
1:45am (Sun) Race 2

Sunday August 21
6:20pm Race 3

TIMING, STREAMING AND OFFICIAL WEBSITE LINKS
Live Timing – click here, Live Streaming – click here.
Official Championship Website – click here.

Australian Joey Mawson added another race win to his resume during Round Six of the ADAC German Formula 4 Championship at the Nürburgring on the weekend.

After finishing second behind Championship rival Mick Schumacher in race one, the PODIUM-backed driver got the jump off the start line in race two before being pressured by Schumacher in the opening laps.

The pair made contact when Schumacher made an ambitious move for the lead which forced Mawson wide.  The German was given a drive-through penalty for his part in the contact leaving Mawson to hold a comfortable lead over Juri Vips on his way to his seventh victory of the year.

In the final 30-minute encounter Mawson moved up from his ninth starting position (reverse top ten from race one finish) to be sixth by the end of the opening lap. He then showed good speed to be battling for a place inside the top five but with the championship using the shorter version of the circuit passing opportunities were limited.

After crossing the line fifth, Mawson was given a post-race penalty for using the pit lane entry while making a pass for fifth place relegating him to 28th.

“Overall we can be satisfied with results from the weekend, I came away with a pole position and two podiums – including a race win,” said Mawson.

“It is disappointing not to have been able to finish on a high due to the penalty in race three but there’s not much I can do about that. I was making a pass on (Richard) Verschoor and he changed direction forcing me onto the pit lane entry.

“The stewards decided that it was an illegal overtaking manoeuvre on my behalf and because it was so late in the race I was given a time penalty of 30 seconds rather than a drive-through penalty.

“In the end, Championship wise I scored the same amount of points as Mick so I left the weekend with the same points lead as what I started with. So that is a real positive.”

With two rounds remaining, Mawson heads the standings on 297 points with Schumacher second on 251.  Mike-David Ortmann is a further 71 points further back in third place.

The penultimate event in the eight-round Championship will be held at the Zandvoort circuit on August 19-21.