DETERMINED DRIVE BY JOSEPH MAWSON IN BAHRAIN

Joseph Mawson in action during Round Two of the CIK-FIA World Championship in Bahrain (Pic: KSP)

Australian Joseph Mawson has rounded out his 2013 campaign with a determined drive in the final round of the CIK-FIA World Championship in Sakhir, Bahrain.

At a circuit where he won the final round of the Under 18 Championship in 2012, Mawson showed some true Australian fighting spirit before crossing the line 17th in his final race of 2013.

The Australian Motor Sport Foundation-backed driver started 16th in the main event before being caught up in a turn one incident that dropped him to 28th position at the end of the opening lap.

“It was just one of those weekends, every time I got into a good position and things were looking good, I got crashed into,” said Mawson.

“I probably had the most pace I’ve had all year but track position was the key because everyone’s lap times were so close. During the final I was setting lap times that were quicker than the leader but I was forced to fight my way back from 28th after getting knocked off at turn one.

“In the pre-final I had moved from 19th to ninth in eight laps, which would have been a great place to start the final from, but I got driven over by another competitor and lost a heap of spots. After that the spark plug lead came off, so I lost positions again and was almost back to where I started.”

While not the overall result he was aiming for, Mawson rates the weekend’s event as one of the best of the year alongside his sterling drive in the WSK Euro Series at the Genk circuit in Belgium in June.

Joseph Mawson in Bahrain (Pic: KSP)

“My highlight of the year a would have be at Genk in Belgium at the WSK Euro Series. I got crashed out on turn one and went back to 33rd before driving back to finish 11th. This weekend is also up there as one of the best I’ve had in terms of fighting back and being able to show my true speed,” said Mawson.

“It has been amazing year over here in Europe. To be able to race on the world’s best tracks against the world’s best drivers has been fantastic.

“I’d really like to thank everyone who has made this year possible for me, particularly the Australian Motor Sport Foundation, everyone in the Kosmic Factory Team, Remo and Sabrina Luciani, Shayne Piper, Ben George for his help early in the year when I first moved over here and especially my parents for their dedication towards my career. Also a special thanks to everyone in the Australian karting community who have shown their support for me throughout 2013.”

After being based in Italy since January, Mawson returns to Australia this Friday before looking to finalise his plans for 2014 in the coming weeks.

“At this stage my plans for 2014 haven’t been finalised, we’re working hard to be back in Europe again either in karts or single seaters,” said Mawson.

British driver Tom Joyner won the event in Bahrain to secure the World Championship after title contenders Max Verstappen and Nicklas Nielsen came together in the final to end their campaigns.