Australian Joey Mawson showed true fighting spirit during the penultimate round of the 2017 FIA European Formula 3 Championship at the Red Bull Ring in Austria.

After being among the pacesetters in the two practice sessions (2nd and 4th fastest), qualifying didn’t quite hit the marks leaving the PODIUM-backed driver starting mid-pack for all three races.

In the opening race Mawson got shuffled wide on the opening lap, a few laps later he ran wide causing a large amount of grass to be lodged in his front wing. After being forced to pit to change his front wing, Mawson returned to the circuit only to be hit by Petru Florescu causing a puncture on the last lap. He was classified 18th.

Starting from 13th for Race Two, Mawson made a solid start to be move into tenth place on the opening lap. He then pressured Maximilian Gunther, who is currently second in the Championship, throughout the journey.

When two drivers ahead of him made mistakes on the last lap, Mawson took advantage and was classified eighth in the final standings.

Race Three was the highlight of the weekend for Mawson and where he showed his true class. After starting 11th, the Van Amersfoort Racing pilot scythed his way through the field to find himself in sixth spot by mid race.

When Championship leader Lando Norris and Ralf Aron crashed out on the final lap, Mawson crossed the line fourth.

Unfortunately, Mawson was one of three drivers that Officials elected to penalise for exceeding track limits while attempting to avoid contact at turn one on the opening lap – a post-race penalty that is rarely applied. He was eventually classified seventh.

“Overall, it was a solid weekend, I’m really happy with the way it ended in the final race crossing the line fourth,” said Mawson.

“I made a fantastic start and then focused on putting in some good lap times while making some overtaking moves. I feel as though it was probably one of my best races of the year.

“From the practice onwards I was always the fastest VAR car, so that was another positive. It is nice to head into the final round with another good result under our belt, now we’ll look to finish on a high at Hockenheim.”

The final event in the 10-round Championship will be held in three weeks time (Oct 13-15) at Hockenheim in Germany.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
(After Round 9 of 10)
1. Lando Norris – 411 points
2. Maximilian Günther – 339
3. Joel Eriksson – 333
4. Callum Ilott – 297
5. Jake Hughes – 193
6. Jehan Daruvala – 177
7. Ferdinand Habsburg – 171
8. Guanyu Zhou – 119
9. Ralf Aron – 118
10. Harrison Newey – 106
13. Joey Mawson – 81

Australian Joey Mawson will be aiming to continue his good momentum when the 2017 FIA European Formula 3 Championship continues in Austria this weekend.

Buoyed in confidence following his maiden podium at the last round, the PODIUM-backed driver heads to the Red Bull Ring will his sights firmly set on more celebrations.

“To get on the podium for the first time meant a lot to me, my team, everyone at PODIUM and all of the people who have supported me on this journey,” said Mawson.

“The first goal of the year was to achieve a podium, it was well overdue, so it felt great to get the ‘monkey off my back’.”

Mawson enjoyed success at the 4.326km circuit on two occasions during his German Formula 4 Championship campaigns with victories in both 2015 and 2016. It is these achievements that provide the Van Amersfoort Racing pilot with an extra boost entering the penultimate round of his 2017 campaign.

“The Red Bull Ring only has eight corners, it sounds easy but it’s far from that. Generally the times are very close, so it comes down to every little detail,” said Mawson.

“I think qualifying will be decided by hundredths of a second rather than tenths, so having everything perfect is going to be the key to success this weekend.

“It is a very enjoyable track and probably the best facilities of any track that I’ve been to in my career. I’m really looking forward to heading back there this weekend.”

With this weekend’s round being held alongside the DTM Championship, Mawson will take to the circuit on Friday afternoon for practice ahead of qualifying for Race One. The opening race will be contested on Saturday morning before qualifying for Races Two and Three is held in the afternoon. A pair of races highlights Sunday.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Local Time

Friday September 22
1:10pm – 1:50pm Free Practice 1
1:55pm – 2:35pm Free Practice 2
5:35pm – 5:55pm Qualifying 1

Saturday September 23
10:40am – 11:15am Race 1
4:15pm – 4:35pm Qualifying 2/3

Sunday September 24
11:00am – 11:35am Race 2
4:55pm – 5:30pm Race 3

AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
Friday September 22
9:10pm – 9:50pm Free Practice 1
9:55pm – 10:35pm Free Practice 2
1:35am (Sat) – 1:55am Qualifying 1

Saturday September 23
6:40pm – 7:15pm Race 1
12:15am (Sun) – 12:35am Qualifying 2/3

Sunday September 24
7:00pm – 7:35pm Race 2
12:55am (Mon) – 1:30am Race 3

Australian Joey Mawson has secured his maiden podium in the 2017 FIA European Formula 3 Championship at the Nürburgring in Germany.

The highlight for the PODIUM-backed driver came in the opening race of the weekend that started in very wet conditions.

After starting from eighth position on the grid, Mawson scythed his way up the order to be in fourth place during the opening laps.

He then passed Callum Ilott for third place, but as the circuit began to dry, Mawson didn’t quite have the pace of his rivals that were challenging from behind. Determined not to let his first podium slip from his grasp, Mawson fought gallantly over the closing stages to hold on and finish third.

Race Two was a lonely one for Mawson. After battling with his Van Amersfoort Racing team-mate Harrison Newey on the opening lap, Mawson slotted into seventh place.

With no challenges from behind, and unable to close in on sixth, he maintained this position until the chequered flag.

After once again starting from eighth position Mawson emerged from the opening lap of the final race in fourth.

Moments later Tadasuke Makino hit Mawson’s right rear wheel giving him a puncture, just as the safety car was deployed for two cars in the gravel. Mawson had to pit to replace the wheel putting him to the back of the queue behind the safety car.

He proceeded to work his way up the field from 20th and by lap 8, he was up to 15th behind Pedro Piquet and Mick Schumacher. While they were squabbling for position, Mawson passed them both before chasing down David Beckmann over the remaining laps.

On the penultimate lap, he saw an opportunity to pass but they touched causing damage to Mawson’s front wing, ending his race.

“We started the weekend off with an absolute high.  It was such a big relief. I was so happy for the team, everyone at PODIUM, along with everyone who has supported me throughout the year,” said Mawson.

“After my maiden podium in Race One, I had a satisfactory run in Race Two where seventh was the best I could do.

“In Race Three it was really unfortunate.  I was in fourth position on the opening lap and Makino slid into me and I got a puncture which meant that I had to pit.  After pitting I drove through the pack but unfortunately I got caught up in an incident that put me out of the race.

“The weekend was very positive, I really felt that I made a big step forward.  I look forward to finishing the year off with a bit of spark and getting some good results over the remaining six races.”

Lando Norris won two of the three races at the Nürburgring with Jake Hughes claiming the other.

Mawson’s next event will be at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on September 23-24.

Australian Joey Mawson will head to familiar territory for Round Eight of the 2017 FIA European Formula 3 Championship at the Nürburgring this weekend.

Having competed at the venue on two occasions as a part of the German Formula 4 Championship, the PODIUM-backed driver is looking forward to returning to the 3.629km circuit.

“It’s good to be heading back to a circuit where I have competed at before. I finished on the podium in the Formula 4, hopefully I can replicate that in the Formula 3 this weekend,” said Mawson.

“We haven’t done any tests there in the Formula 3 car, but I know the circuit and we have done a lot of preparation in the workshop to provide us with the best opportunity and a good result.”

With the circuit being one of the tightest on the schedule, Mawson believes it is one that should suit the Van Amersfoort Racing outfit.

“We’ve struggled this year to get the most out of the car on the high-speed circuits, but have been pretty good on some of the tighter circuits,” said Mawson.

“I’m continually learning on how to improve my driving and the team is continually working hard to improve the set-up of the car. We’re not far off but in this Championship every little bit counts.

“The track is notoriously hard on brakes, so that is something we’ll need to keep in mind. Because it is quite a short lap, there are limited passing opportunities, so qualifying well will again be very  important.”

This weekend’s event will be contested alongside a round of the DTM Championship. Practice for the Formula 3 drivers will be contested on Friday from 11:45am ahead of qualifying for Race One at 5:50pm local time. Saturday will feature Race One in the morning, and qualifying for Races Two and Three in the afternoon. Two races, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, will highlight Sunday.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

LOCAL TIME
Friday September 8
11:45pm – 12:25pm Free Practice 1
12:30pm – 2:10pm Free Practice 2
5:50pm – 6:10pm Qualifying 1

Saturday September 9
10:45am – 11:20am Race 1
5:45pm – 6:05pm Qualifying 2/3

Sunday September 10
11:05am – 11:40am Race 2
4:55pm – 5:30pm Race 3

AUSTRALIAN EASTERN STANDARD TIME
Friday September 8
7:45pm – 8:25pm Free Practice 1
8:30pm – 9:10pm Free Practice 2
1:50am (Sat) – 2:10am Qualifying 1

Saturday September 9
6:45pm – 7:20pm Race 1
1:45am (Sun) – 2:05am Qualifying 2/3

Sunday September 10
7:05pm – 7:40pm Race 2
12:55am (Mon) – 1:30am Race 3