![](http://formulascout.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/54I2139.jpg)
Photo: Zak Mauger / GP3 Media Service
ADAC Formula 4 champion Joey Mawson will return to Van Amersfoort Racing this year to take on the Formula Regional European Championship.
The Australian won the 2016 ADAC F4 title with VAR, and continued into European Formula 3 with the team a year later. He took one podium before moving into GP3 with Arden, where he doubled his podium tally but finished 13th in the standings.
Mawson joins Sophia Floersch at VAR in FREC, and brings the grid up to 13 cars for the championship’s second round at Vallelunga this coming weekend.
It will be the sixth third tier series the 23-year-old has raced in, having also competed successfully in the MRF Challenge and the BRDC British F3 Autumn Trophy – finishing second in both – and two races in Euroformula Open with BVM Racing in 2017.
VAR struggled in the first FREC round, with limited preparation due to its late decision to enter the championship, with Sophia Floersch finishing ninth, eighth and fifth.
Mas du Clos Racing’s Alexandre Bardinon, who missed the Paul Ricard season opener to a hand injury, will also be making his delayed debut in the championship.