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28th August 2013

AUSSIE BATTLER SET TO TAKE ON THE WORLD THIS WEEKEND

Joseph Mawson will line up in the opening round of the 2013 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship in England this weekend (Pic: KSP)

Ever since starting his motorsport career eight years ago, Sydney kart racer Joseph Mawson has dreamt of one day becoming a World Champion.

The three-time Australian Champion will move one step closer to making his dream a reality this weekend, when he competes at the PF International Circuit near Brandon, Lincolnshire in England for the CIK-FIA World Karting Championship.

Only one other Australian has previously achieved this feat in the sport of karting – Mawson’s fellow Sydneysider James Courtney.  The Penrith-raised V8 Supercar Champion and ex-Formula One test driver was victorious in the World Junior Championship in 1995 and World Senior Championship in 1997.

Last November, Mawson became the first Australian to enjoy success at a CIK-FIA World Championship level since Courtney when he was victorious at the final round of the three-event World Under 18 Karting Championship in Bahrain.

Now, this weekend he’s got the opportunity to follow once again in Courtney’s footsteps when he lines up with the Kosmic Factory team, which hails from the same factory as the iconic Tony Kart team that carried Courtney to his success.

“It was a pretty surreal feeling to see a photo of James holding the Aussie flag on the podium in 1997 inside the team’s factory when I was there for the first time the other week,” said Mawson.

James Courtney crossing the line for victory in the 1997 World Karting Championship

“Seeing that photo made me realise that even as an Australian on the other side of the world if you have the right opportunity, and you make the most of it, anything is possible.

“Since joining the Kosmic team it’s the most confident I’ve been since I came to Europe at the start of the year.  We had a test day last week where a lot of drivers were there and all of the Kosmic drivers were very close and showed some good speed, which is encouraging for the weekend ahead.”

Upon moving to Italy at the start of 2013 Mawson struggled with the fledging Top Kart outfit, however courtesy of the ongoing support of the Australian Motor Sport Foundation and his family along with a number of key players in the Australian karting industry, he now has a realistic shot at being crowned World Champion with his new team.

“I’ve had a huge amount of support from people in Australia, especially after it was announced that I was joining the Kosmic team for the World Championship,” said Mawson.

“There’s numerous people in Australia who played a significant part to make this opportunity happen for me and I’d really like to thank everyone involved.  I hope that I can repay them for the faith they’ve shown in me with a strong result this weekend on karting’s biggest stage in the world.”

A total of 55 competitors will line up on the grid for this weekend’s opening round of the two-event CIK-FIA World Karting Championship representing 20 countries and five continents.

This year marks the 50th running of the World Karting Championship.  Some of the drivers expected to feature prominently in this year’s event include Dutch driver Max Verstappen (son of ex-Formula One driver Jos) who recently secured the European Championship, French driver Valentin Moineault, Danish driver Christian Sorensen, Polish driver Karol Basz, Frenchman Armand Convers, Italian Felice Tiene and British driver Ben Hanley, local Mark Litchfield, Danish driver Nicklas Nielsen, Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci and 2012 Junior Champion George Russell.

Practice begins today (Wednesday) and will continue tomorrow ahead of qualifying on Friday afternoon local time.  Heat races will be contested on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s pre-final, where the top 17 finishers transfer into the final.

For all of the information on the event please visit http://www.cikfiachampionship.com/world_championship.asp