Sport

Kiwi Formula One driver Liam Lawson trades tarmac for dirt track

16:22 pm on 14 November 2024

Liam Lawson has tried his hand at racing NASCAR for a Red Bull promotion. Photo: Red Bull

Kiwi Formula One driver Liam Lawson has shown he is just as adept driving on dirt.

Two of New Zealand's biggest names in motorsport came together for a Formula One/NASCAR crossover, which saw Lawson try his hand at a completely unfamiliar style of racing.

Shane van Gisbergen was called on to coach Lawson on handling the 500 horsepower, V8 machine on a dirt oval track in Texas.

The three-time Australian Supercar Champion turned NASCAR Cup Series competitor recently set the fastest lap in a modern NASCAR Cup Series car at 199.438 mph at Talladega Superspeedway.

Van Gisbergen offered some sound advice to his fellow countryman.

"When you brake, it helps pull the car into the corner. Rely on the brake and the throttle more than the steering to guide the car's direction," he said.

Taking part alongside fellow F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda, the pair were challenged with handling a stock car.

Lawson and Tsunoda completed three challenges before a final winner-take-all head-to-head race.

Challenges included navigating through cones, corners and a qualifying lap to decide the starting grid fro the final.

Lawson failed the first and passed the second, and was just pipped in the qualifier.

Tsunoda would also claim the final five-lap head to head race.

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