KIWI youngster Liam Lawson will be behind the wheel for Red Bull’s Formula 1 demonstration laps at the Bathurst 12 Hour.
The 20-year-old Red Bull Junior Driver is set to steer the 2011 Red Bull RB7 Formula 1 car in a series of sessions across the February 3-5 weekend.
An announcement last year that the F1 demo would take place did not include the identity of the driver, leading to speculation that Daniel Ricciardo would make an appearance.
Although having never been to Bathurst previously, Lawson is otherwise well credentialed for the role – which will culminate in a track run between the first two segments of 12 Hour qualifying.
He completed Friday practice sessions for AlphaTauri at last year’s Belgian and Mexican Grands Prix, before jumping into the Red Bull car for FP1 at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
He has also logged significant miles in current F1 machinery in post-season testing, and F1 young driver tests, over the last two years.
“I’m super excited! I’ve never been to Bathurst before so it’ll be a first for me,” said Lawson.
“It’s a track that I’ve done a lot in sim racing and iRacing.
“Being from New Zealand, Supercars is a massive series and I’ve grown up watching it, especially the Bathurst 1000. It’s always been one of the biggest events that I’ve known.
“I’m excited to finally tackle the Mountain and in that car as well – in the RB7 – which I have had the privilege of driving once and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life.
“I’m really excited to have that opportunity again at such a unique place, and to see the fans’ reaction to the car because I think it will be quite cool.”
Lawson has been backed by Red Bull for much of his junior career, with his Bathurst visit representing something of a homecoming for the now well-travelled young star.
Lawson raced in New Zealand and then Australia as a teenager before moving overseas to tackle the pathway to Formula 1.
He finished second in the 2019 Euroformula Open Championship, won the 2019 Toyota Racing Series and finished fifth in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship.
In 2021 Lawson moved to FIA Formula 2, the final step on the ladder before Formula 1, finishing ninth in the championship in his rookie season.
He was then a title contender for much of the 2022 campaign, winning four races en-route to third in the championship. At the same time, he raced a Ferrari in the 2022 DTM Championship for Alpha Tauri, finishing second.
In 2023 Lawson will move to Japan to contest the Super Formula Championship with Team Mugen.
