![\"Lawson](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/HNBgtSfWgAA-75Y.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson in the cockpit of the 1966 Ford GT40 MKII. Image: Racing Bulls<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLiam Lawson in the cockpit of the 1966 Ford GT40 MKII. Image: Racing Bulls<\/p>\n
The New Zealander was given the opportunity to take the famous #2 machine up the hillclimb during last weekend\u2019s Goodwood Festival of Speed, leaving him visibly emotional after climbing behind the wheel.<\/p>\n Bruce McLaren shared the GT40 with Kiwi compatriot Chris Amon when the pair claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, creating one of the most celebrated moments in the country\u2019s motorsport history.<\/p>\n The win is also a controversial moment in Ford\u2019s history, as retold in the 2019 Academy Award-winning film Ford vs Ferrari.<\/p>\n Lawson had not expected to drive the car when he arrived at Goodwood, with the opportunity arising only after he spotted it and asked its owner whether he could have a run.<\/p>\n \u201cMy hands are still shaking. Very, very special, obviously, a lot of New Zealand history in this car,\u201d Lawson said immediately after completing the hillclimb.<\/p>\n \u201cI got to drive a road-going GT40 last year, and the whole time, all I could think about was this car.<\/p>\n Complete our motor oil survey for your chance to win 1 of 5 Supercheap Auto $100 gift cards. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect to come here and drive it. I saw it today, and I asked. I said, \u2018Can I please? That\u2019d be really, really special.\u2019 And the owner was kind enough to let me drive it. So, very, very special.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawson remained seated in the car after returning from the run, describing the experience as a bucket-list moment.<\/p>\n \u201c100 percent. That\u2019s why everyone\u2019s out of their cars, and I\u2019m still sitting in there, so I\u2019m probably going to stay in here for a little bit,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe feeling you get when driving a car like this is completely\u2026 It\u2019s indescribable. It\u2019s not like anything that we drive currently \u2014 the vibration, the frequency, the noise.<\/p>\n \u201cI was given an RPM limit not to go over, but you can\u2019t help yourself. I didn\u2019t go over it too much.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just can\u2019t help yourself when it starts coming up in the upper [rev range], when the car just starts singing, and it\u2019s incredible. It was very enjoyable for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Speaking of the experience during Thursday\u2019s press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix, Lawson said the significance of the car extended beyond its Le Mans success because of his connection to New Zealand\u2019s racing heritage.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it was pretty cool. Obviously, growing up in New Zealand, motorsport in New Zealand and Formula 1 especially, there\u2019s a lot of history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time since the success of those guys. Obviously, Bruce starting McLaren, and that car specifically is what won that race.<\/p>\n \u201cFor me, as a New Zealander growing up learning about the history and having relationships and mentors with people who were close to, or knew, the families of Bruce and Chris Amon, it was very, very cool.<\/p>\n \u201cVery special. I probably won\u2019t ever have a feeling like that again in a race car.\u201d<\/p>\n Lawson returns to his Racing Bulls duties at Spa-Francorchamps carrying one of the strongest runs of form outside Formula 1\u2019s leading teams.<\/p>\n The 24-year-old has scored points in seven of the opening nine races, including the last five consecutive grands prix, and enters the 10th round of the season sitting 10th in the drivers\u2019 championship.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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