Lawson left ‘shaking’ after driving legendary race-winning car

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Kiwi Formula 1 star Liam Lawson says he was left ‘shaking’ after driving a legendary race-winning car linked with New Zealand racing success.

At the Goodwood Festival of Speed over the weekend, the Racing Bulls driver completed the iconic hillclimb in the No.2 Ford GT40 Mk.II, the same car Kiwi motorsport legends Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon won the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race in.

Speaking after the run, Lawson, looking at his hand, said it was “still shaking”.

'Very, very special, obviously a lot of New Zealand history in this car and I got to drive something similar, I got to drive a road-going GT40 last year, and the whole time all I could think about was this car,“ he said.

'I didn't expect to come here and drive it, I saw it today and I asked, I said 'can I please [drive it], that would be really really special' and the owner was kind enough to let me drive it, so very very special.“

When put to him that this run was a bucket list item now ticked off, Lawson agreed.

“100 per cent. That’s why everyone’s out of their cars, and I’m still sitting in there. So I’m probably going to stay in here for a little bit.”

He said driving a car like this is “indescribable”.

“It’s not like anything that we drive currently. The vibration, sort of the frequency, the noise.

“I was given an RPM (revolutions per minute) limit not to go over, but you just can’t help yourself. I didn’t go over it too much. You just can’t help yourself. When it starts coming up in the RPM and the car just starts singing, it’s incredible. It was very, very enjoyable for me.”

McLaren and Amon ended Ferrari’s dominance to win the first ever Le Mans race by an American constructor.

Liam Lawson drives the Ford SuperVan 4 during the Goodwood Festival of Speed at Goodwood Motor Circuit on July 11, 2026 in Chichester, England.

Lawson appeared to drive anything and everything during the festival, which is the largest motorsport and car culture event in the world. He also drove a 1000hp Gunther Werks F-26 Porsche, the Red Bull Racing RB8, and a Ford Supervan.

Lawson will take to the track again in this weekend’s Formula 1 Belgium Grand Prix.