Arvid Lindblad, driver for the Racing Bulls team, has expressed his interest in the world of rally after his participation in the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where he tested a World Rally Championship (WRC) vehicle.
The young driver, who currently competes in Formula 1, had the opportunity to drive an M-Sport-Ford Puma Rally1 through a 1.9-mile gravel stage designed by the legendary world rally champion, Hannu Mikkola.
Lindblad began his experience sitting next to WRC star Jon Armstrong, before taking command of the vehicle. Upon completing the test, he confessed that this experience provided him with a new appreciation for the difficulty of rallying, a sport he has admired for quite some time and which he considers a possible option for his future once his F1 career is over.
“It was incredible, so thanks to Jon and the team for this opportunity, as it’s my first experience in this field. We drive fast in F1, but here I felt out of my comfort zone and that surprised me,” Lindblad shared in a live stream from the festival.
“After experiencing it, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the work rally drivers do; the cameras don’t really show the intensity. It’s very fast and you’re so close to the trees, it’s really impressive what these drivers do,” Lindblad added.
Jon Armstrong, participating in his first season at the top level of the WRC, enjoyed sharing the vehicle with Lindblad and observed how the new F1 driver appreciated the experience.
“It was great to take him for a spin and see how he enjoyed driving. F1 drivers have to prove their worth from the very first moment, and that’s not easy,” Armstrong noted.
Armstrong will return to competition this week when the WRC moves to Estonia for the first fast gravel event of the season.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
