Feb 26

Feb 26 Third victory for Joey Mawson to complete S5000 sweep in Tasmania

88Racing and Team BRM driver Joey Mawson swept the S5000 season opener in Tasmania with victory in all three races.

Joey Mawson celebrates on the S5000 podium with Cooper Webster and James Golding. *(Daniel Kalisz / ARG)*

Mawson was seriously challenged for the first time this weekend as Cooper Webster took the lead of the start line and threatened to run off into the long horizon of Symmons Plains.

As the dark grey clouds circled and light rain began to fall, Mawson plotted his comeback against his Versa Motorsport rival, conserving push-to-pass and inching closer until making the move on lap 14.

Mawson consolidated his lead and sped away to a 1.4 second lead by the chequered flag, cementing the new partnership between 88Racing and BRM in the best possible fashion.

Behind them, James Golding was completing a momentous comeback after starting the first race of the weekend from pit lane.

Golding started the feature race in fourth, chasing down contender Aaron Cameron until making the decisive move on the same lap Mawson challenged for the lead.

Mawson collected the trophy ahead of Webster and Golding, taking maximum points from the weekend and establishing his tilt at a third Gold Star title.

The only thing missing for Mawson was a new lap record around the Symmons Plains circuit, unable to beat his 2022 best of 48.5598s.

In fourth was Cameron, fresh from his TCR Australia race victory just 20 minutes earlier, then had to hold off the advances of Spaniard Roberto Merhi who found pace in the closing stages of the 26-lap race.

The S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship returns 12-14 May at Phillip Island.

2023 S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship - Race Tasmania Round Three