GP3 returned to action following the summer break at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium for Round 6 of the 2018 Championship.
Qualifying saw Joey Mawson as the best placed Arden driver in 10th position, with teammates Gabriel Aubry and Julian Falchero in 14th and 15th fastest respectively.
The opening race of the weekend took place on Saturday morning under cold temperatures. Mawson made a strong start to move himself further into the battle for the points, as the cars slipstreamed through Raidillon and down the Kemmel Straight and into Les Combes.
Aubry and Falchero maintained position as the congested pack worked itself out over the following laps.
DRS was enabled on Lap 3, making the slipstream effect even more powerful for driver’s down the straight. Mawson was involved in a race-long scrap with Guiliano Alesi’s Trident whilst in the battle for Reverse-Grid Pole and 8th pole position. In the closing stages, they caught their rivals in front despite their battling.
Mawson moved into 7th temporarily in the final laps while battling with Jake Hughes. Mawson lost that battle but maintained 8th and secured points and the critical pole position for Race 2.
Aubry moved up a position from his starting berth to finish in 13th position, with Falchero following just behind in 15th position.
Race 2 saw Mawson make a strong start from pole position,holding off the challenges of the two ART Grand Prix’s of Callum Ilott and JakeHughes. Mawson held the lead briefly at the start of the race, before his challenge began to fade as he dropped to 4th position after Lap 5.
Aubry and Falchero were making ground up the field, challenging for the Top 10 positions at the race approached by half distance.
Mawson looked to be suffering with tyre issues, as he was forced to defend hard from his rivals after struggling with overall pace in the second half of the race.
The Australian sadly later suffered a puncture with a handful of laps to go, ruining his race after such a promising run yesterday.
Aubry managed to make further progress in the field, just missing out on the Top 10 by coming home in 11th position, with Falchero unfortunately fading in the closing stages to finish in 15th position.
The next round of the GP3 Series takes place in just one week’s time at Monza for Round 7, Races 13-14 of the 2018 championship.