Mawson Ready For Seniors After Winning Stars of Karting
press release
Three-time Australian Champion Joseph Mawson has wrapped up his 2011 CIK Stars of Karting Series campaign in sensational fashion winning both 25-lap finals also securing second place in the five-round championship.
This event also marked the final race in the Junior ranks for the young driver from Hinchinbrook in New South Wales who headed into the final round of the series held at the Mt Sugarloaf Raceway in Newcastle full of confidence after claiming the New South Wales Junior Clubman State Title at the same venue just two weeks prior.
pic by AFimages.com.au
“I’ve capped off this first chapter of my career in juniors on a high, I’m so happy to have won the Rotax Nationals, the New South Wales Title and the Final of CIK in the last few months but now I’m really excited and looking forward to this next challenge in stepping up to seniors,” said Mawson.
The Fujitsu Cool pilot started the weekend strong qualifying second fastest and remained in second throughout the three heats however from then on his domination was undoubtable.
Final one saw Mawson start from position two alongside eventual series champion Pierce Lehane and after a brief duel the Top Kart pilot drove away from the field for a comfortable victory handing him pole for the final race of the year.
Mawson’s great pace continued in final two where he began to open up a gap on the ensuing pack behind right from the green light building his lead with every lap of the 1058 metre circuit.
In the end the 15 year-old current Australian Junior MAX Champion proved unstoppable as he took the chequered flag an impressive 11 seconds ahead of his nearest rival in Lehane.
pic by AFimages.com.au
“It feels great to win the final round of the CIK Stars of Karting, I knew we had the pace all weekend so it was good to win the first final but even more satisfying to win final two, especially by 11.4 seconds,” said Mawson.
“I’m also really happy to finish second in the championship against some quality competition, of course I would prefer to have won but who knows it may have been a different story if we didn’t have those dramas at the opening round – my congratulations must still go to Pierce though.”
“I’m looking forward to some new challenges now particularly the World Final, I can’t wait to get over there and give it my best shot and this latest victory has only given me added confidence heading over to Abu Dhabi.”
“Once again I really need to thank a lot of people as without them none of this would be possible. I need to thank Top Kart, Kart 1, Tim Craig Fergus Symes and Shayne Piper for all their help along with Fujitsu for their incredible support, Xzuit, Kart X, Bell Helmets, RADeigns and of course all of the series organisers.”
Mawson’s next contest will be the opening round of the Rotax Pro Tour held at the Canberra Kart Club (October 28-30) followed by the Rotax World Final in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (November 19-26) where he will represent Australia.
