Australian Joey Mawson will join Arden International for this season’s GP3 Series.

Mawson steps into the category after a season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship with Van Amersfoort Racing, where he claimed a single podium finish at the Nurburgring.

Prior to that the New South Welshman spent two seasons in the German Formula 4 Championship, finishing third on his first attempt before winning the competition in 2016.

“I’m very excited to be joining Arden International for the 2018 GP3 season, to be able to race on the same schedule as Formula 1 is something that I’m thoroughly looking forward to,” said the 21-year-old.

“This opportunity is one that has come about pretty quickly over the past few weeks.

“Last year was very much a learning year for me. It was a tough one having come off winning the German F4 Championship and then making the big step into F3,” Mawson added.

“I’m very grateful for the experience of last year and thankful to everyone who helped me. Now I’m focused on putting everything that I learnt into practice to assist me in gaining more success in 2018.”

The GP3 calendar takes in nine events, all of which support the F1 world championship, with the opening race of the year coinciding with the Spanish Grand Prix in May.

Mawson will have his first outing with his new team at the Paul Ricard circuit in Le Castellet, France this week as part of the Official GP3 test.

The move will make Mawson just the second Australian to compete in the F1 feeder series, following Mitch Gilbert who drove for Trident and Carlin in 2014 and 2015.

2018 GP3 Series Calendar
11-13 May – Barcelona, Spain
22-24 June – Le Castellet, France
29 June – 1 July – Spielberg, Austria
6-8 July – Silverstone, Great-Britain
27-29 July – Budapest, Hungary
24-26 August – Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium
31 August – 2 September – Monza, Italy
28-30 September – Sochi, Russia
23-25 November – Yas Marina, UAE