JOSEPH MAWSON AIMING FOR THE TOP SPOT IN FRANCE THIS WEEKEND

Aussie duo set for Round Two of the World Under 18 Karting Championship

Joseph Mawson on his way to eighth place in the final in Portugal (Pic: KSP)

After mixing it with the world’s best young drivers in Round One of the CIK-FIA Under 18 World Karting Championship, Joseph Mawson has got his sights set on the top spot during Round Two to be held in Angerville, France this weekend.

The Sydney-based driver enters the event equal fourth in the standings, a mere three points out of second place, and is fully aware of the opportunity that this is his big chance at starring on the world stage.

“The best part of round one was the atmosphere of being at a World Championship and having my fellow Aussies with me,” said Mawson.

“After having a fantastic round one, I’m confident for round two this weekend. My biggest aim is to catch up in the championship and get valuable points to put me in a good position for the final round in the Championship.

“To win the World Championship would be amazing but not only do you have to be fast, you also need luck on your side and that is something that wasn’t with me completely at round one so I just need to make the best out of every situation and gain some good results.

“I’m equal fourth in the championship now, 26 points behind the points leader and only three points behind second in the championship. With two rounds still to come I just need to focus on finishing races as high up the order as possible and hopefully make it onto the championship podium.”

With 83 drivers from 22 countries competing in the championship, all using a one-make Parolin engine and LeCont tyres, the level of competition in the three-round championship is extremely high.

“With so many drivers from across the world the championship is extremely tough, every time that you take to the track you’ve certainly got to be right on top of your game and make every corner count,” said Mawson.

“Over the past few weeks I’ve been watching lots of onboard videos of the Angerville track and having been preparing a lot with my fitness training to keep me 100% in the kart!

“For me, this opportunity wouldn’t even be possible without the likes of Fujitsu Australia, CAMS (Confederation of Australian Motor Sport) and the AMSF (Australian Motor Sport Foundation) not to mention Top Kart and Kart 1, so I need to say a big thanks for all their efforts not to mention everybody else that has helped and supported me. I hope I can reward their confidence in me with a victory.”

Jacob Parsons showed true potential during Round One of the Under 18 World Karting Championship in Portugal (Pic: KSP)

Joining Mawson in chasing in the highly-competitive championship is fellow Sydney driver Jacob Parsons. The 17 year-old showed glimpses of his true potential during the opening round before a mechanical failure ended his run towards the front of the field.

“I learnt a lot at the opening round and will go into this weekend’s round with confidence knowing that I can mix it with the best guys in the world,” said Parsons.

“I’ve been working hard on my strength over the past eight weeks and have put on four kilograms of muscle mass, so I think I’m a lot better prepared and fitter ahead of this weekend than I was in Portugal.

“As it’s another new track to me, like all three in the championship, I’ve watched some onboards of the track to learn a lot about the racing lines and what kerbs you need to use. I’d be happy with top 15 finish but I’m aiming for top ten for this round.”

James Abela suiting up during Round One of the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy in Portugal (Pic: KSP)

Competing at the same event will be another Sydney teenager, James Abela, in the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy. The 14 year-old was very impressive during his international debut at Braga in Portugal last month to record a sixth place finish.

Competing against the top young drivers between 13 and 15 years of age from various parts of the world, Abela has got his sights fixed on another top ten finish in France this weekend.

“The toughest parts of round one was getting use to the driving style and just the high-level of the racing in general,” said Abela.

“I’m looking forward to this track it looks like the best one out of the three rounds in the Trophy. I have watched a lot of on boards to try to figure out some of the racing lines.

“I’ve have been training three days a week to improve my fitness which really helped me in the CIK Stars of Karting Series in Australia so this should help with overseas as well.”

Practice for the event begins on Friday ahead of qualifying and heat races on Saturday from 10:00am (6:00pm AEST). The finals will be contested on Sunday from 1:00pm local time (9:00pm AEST).

CIK-FIA UNDER 18 WORLD KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Top Five Standings – (After Round 1 of 3)
1. Henry Easthope (Great Britain) – 75 points
2. Martin Henckel Mortensen (Denmark) – 52
3. Charles Leclerc (Monaco)- 51
4. Anthoine Hubert (France) – 49
5. Joseph Mawson (Australia) – 49
33. Jacob Parsons – 8

CIK-FIA ACADEMY TROPHY
Top Five Standings – (After Round 1 of 3)
1. Joonas Lappalainen (Finland) – 91 points
2. Javier Cobian (Spain) – 83
3. Martin Ellegard (Norway) – 77
4. George Russell (Great Britain) – 75
5. Adeline Prudent (France) – 71
6. James Abela (Australia) – 69

CIK-FIA UNDER 18 WORLD KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP &
CIK-FIA ACADEMY TROPHY
Round 2 – Angerville, France

Weekend Timetable (Local time)
Saturday August 25
8:20 U18 – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 1
8:40 Academy – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 1
9:00 U18 – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 2
9:20 Academy – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 2
9:40 U18 – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 3
10:00 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 1
10:15 Academy – Qualifying Practice – Series 1
10:30 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 2
10:45 Academy – Qualifying Practice – Series 2
11:00 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 3
12:45 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-C) – 13 laps
13:05 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-D) – 13 laps
13:25 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-C) – 9 laps
13:45 Academy – Qualifying Heat (B-D) – 9 laps
14:05 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-E) – 13 laps
14:25 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-C) – 13 laps
15:00 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-D) – 9 laps
15:20 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-D) – 13 laps
15:40 U18 – Qualifying Heat (C-E) – 13 laps
16:00 Academy – Qualifying Heat (B-C) – 9 laps
16:35 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-B) – 13 laps
16:55 U18 – Qualifying Heat (D-E) – 13 laps
17:15 Academy – Qualifying Heat (C-D) – 9 laps
17:35 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-B) – 9 laps
17:55 U18 – Qualifying Heat (C-D) – 13 laps
18:15 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-E) – 13 laps

Sunday August 26
9:15 Academy – Warm-up – Finalists A
9:35 Academy – Warm-up – Finalists B
9:55 U18 – Warm-up – Finalists B
10:15 U18 – Warm-up – Finalists A
13:00 U18 – Pre-final 1 – 13 laps
13:20 Academy – Race 1 – 17 laps
14:00 Academy – Final B – 17 laps
14:25 U18 – Pre-final 2 (reverse grid) – 13 laps
14:45 U18 – Final B – 17 laps
15:30 Academy – Race 2 – 17 laps
16:05 U18 – Final – 26 laps

Weekend Timetable (Australian Eastern Standard time)
Saturday August 25
16:20 U18 – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 1
16:40 Academy – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 1
17:00 U18 – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 2
17:20 Academy – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 2
17:40 Academy – Non-qualifying Practice – Series 3
18:00 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 1
18:15 Academy – Qualifying Practice – Series 1
18:30 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 2
18:45 Academy – Qualifying Practice – Series 2
19:00 U18 – Qualifying Practice – Series 3
19:45 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-C) – 13 laps
21:05 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-D) – 13 laps
21:25 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-C) – 9 laps
21:45 Academy – Qualifying Heat (B-D) – 9 laps
22:05 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-E) – 13 laps
22:25 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-C) – 13 laps
23:00 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-D) – 9 laps
23:20 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-D) – 13 laps
23:40 U18 – Qualifying Heat (C-E) – 13 laps

Sunday August 26
0:00 Academy – Qualifying Heat (B-C) – 9 laps
0:35 U18 – Qualifying Heat (A-B) – 13 laps
0:55 U18 – Qualifying Heat (D-E) – 13 laps
1:15 Academy – Qualifying Heat (C-D) – 9 laps
1:35 Academy – Qualifying Heat (A-B) – 9 laps
1:55 U18 – Qualifying Heat (C-D) – 13 laps
2:15 U18 – Qualifying Heat (B-E) – 13 laps

17:15 Academy – Warm-up – Finalists A
17:35 Academy – Warm-up – Finalists B
17:55 U18 – Warm-up – Finalists B
18:15 U18 – Warm-up – Finalists A
21:00 U18 – Pre-final 1 – 13 laps
21:20 Academy – Race 1 – 17 laps
22:00 Academy – Final B – 17 laps
22:25 U18 – Pre-final 2 (reverse grid) – 13 laps
22:45 U18 – Final B – 17 laps
23:30 Academy – Race 2 – 17 laps

Monday August 27
0:05 U18 – Final – 26 laps