Liam Lawson, driver for the Racing Bulls team, shared his excitement after driving the legendary Ford GT40, winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, at the prestigious Goodwood Festival of Speed. The young New Zealander was so impressed that, after his performance on the famous climb, he admitted that his hands were still shaking.
Lawson had the unique opportunity to get behind the wheel of the vehicle that Bruce McLaren, one of the icons of New Zealand motorsport, took to victory in this iconic event. Upon completing his lap, the driver confessed that the experience had been emotionally profound and full of meaning.
“My hands are still shaking. It’s very, very special, with all the history of New Zealand that this car carries,” Lawson reflected from the cockpit of the Ford GT40. “Last year I drove a road GT40, and the whole time I was thinking about this vehicle.
Interestingly, his chance to drive the GT40 was a last-minute addition to the weekend’s agenda. “I didn’t expect to come here to drive it. I saw it today and asked if I could do it. The owner was kind enough to let me drive it, so it has been very, very special,” he commented.
When asked if he had checked off a goal on his bucket list, Lawson replied emphatically: “100%. That’s why everyone has gotten out of their cars, and I’m still sitting here, so I’ll probably stay a little longer.”
The driver described the sensation of driving a car of this magnitude as “indescribable.” According to him, the vibration, frequency, and sound of the car were completely different from anything he has recently piloted. “I was told not to exceed a certain rev limit, but it’s almost impossible to resist when it starts calling to you as it approaches the upper rev range, it’s amazing. It’s been very enjoyable for me,” Lawson added.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_671cc117590cbdffd3a2b49c4e3436afcc280923