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Learning Experience For Joseph Mawson At LA Conca
Fresh from a 36-hour journey to the other side of the globe, Australia’s Joseph Mawson (Hinchinbrook, NSW) took to the La Conca circuit in Italy on the weekend as a part of the opening event in the WSK Master Series.
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While heading into the event with small expectations, Mawson left the event with a new found respect of the tough conditions at the top level of karting throughout Europe.
“It was tough, tougher than I ever expected. With no testing ahead of the weekend and only getting off the plane from Australia a few hours before I took the track for the first time it was a less than ideal preparation,” said Mawson.
“I then had two engine failures in the opening two practice sessions which really put me behind the eight-ball. I hadn’t been in a kart for almost six weeks, I hadn’t driven the new Top Kart before, nor the engine or the Vega tyres, and then it was a completely new track on grip levels that I’d never experienced before – it was like starting my racing all over again. It was simply another world.
“All throughout the weekend we had niggling issues which left me languishing at the back of the pack. Many of these issues would have normally been sorted out on a pre-season test day but with a delay in finalising the deal and sorting my visa out it just didn’t happen.”
After qualifying 46th fastest in the highly competitive 48-kart field in the KF category, Mawson battled through the three heat races before a carburation issue left him stranded on the grid at the start of the second-chance race. As a result, he was forced to watch the main event from the sideline.
“It was probably the worst possible start to my year that I could have had, but on the flipside I’m over here and getting an opportunity that karters can normally only dream about,” added Mawson.
“The plan now is to put the weekend behind me and aim for a good result in the next event. We have a planned test this weekend so we’ll go there, iron out all the bugs and work on our engine program. The test will also allow me to get adapted to the chassis and the tyres.”
Mawson’s next event with the Top Kart Racing Team is scheduled to be the opening round of the WSK Euro Series on the first weekend in March.
PaddockTalk Perspective
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