Liam Lawson beats WRC Champions in impressive rally debut at Goodwood

Liam Lawson might be on a break from his Formula 1 duties with Racing Bulls, but the Kiwi star certainly didn’t take it easy, delivering an impressive rally debut at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed that turned some heads.

Tackling the event’s notoriously tight and slippery Forest Rally Stage for the first time in his career, Lawson shocked onlookers by going third-fastest overall, out of 97 drivers, behind the wheel of a 2025 Ford Puma Rally1 car.

Despite having zero prior rally experience, Lawson’s 2:23.7 time saw him mix it with, and even beat, some of the world’s most seasoned rally legends and top-tier WRC competitors.

The 23-year-old was co-driven by Josh McErlean, a full-time World Rally Championship driver for M-Sport Ford WRT, and their partnership proved instantly effective.

“It was incredible,” Lawson told DirtFish after the run.

“Growing up in New Zealand, rallying is very popular, but I’ve never had the chance to try it myself.

“I was very nervous to jump straight into this car, but it was such an incredible experience. I gave it everything, honestly, I tried as hard as I could. It was such a cool day. Thanks, Josh!”

The Goodwood Forest Rally Stage is famed for its complexity, winding through dense woodland with a constantly changing mix of gravel, clay, concrete and grass. High banks, narrow lines, and limited visibility leave no room for error, a fact Lawson learned quickly.

“Ah, I don’t know [how fast I was], I’m just trying to battle it,” he laughed.

“I hit a couple of banks and things and was just trying to keep the car straight, probably too straight, to be honest.”

McErlean, who was calling simplified pace notes for Lawson throughout the runs, was blown away by the Kiwi’s rapid adaptation.

“He’s been proper,” McErlean said.

“To jump into this car for the first time, to even just know where you’re pulling gears or where the handbrake is… it’s a daunting experience. But this car, at this calibre, on one of the most famous rally stages in the world? He’s handled it like a pro.”

“It’s super narrow, super technical, and this morning the grip was very low because we were the first car on it, but it got better as the day went on.
His times were seriously close, especially in the last one.”

Lawson’s 2:23.7 time was just half a second off motorsport icon Travis Pastrana’s fastest time (2:23.2), and only three seconds shy of Elfyn Evans, a multiple WRC rally winner who topped the charts with a 2:20.6. But it’s who Lawson beat that made the biggest statement and with only seven runs under his belt.

In only his first-ever rally outing, Lawson outpaced:

• Josh McErlean – WRC driver & Lawson’s co-driver (2:24.0)
• Ott Tänak – 2019 World Rally Champion (2:24.2)
• Jari-Matti Latvala – 18-time WRC winner (2:26.9 / 2:27.4)
• Kalle Rovanperä – 2022 & 2023 WRC Champion (2:27.7)
• Sami Pajari – 2024 WRC2 Champ & current Rally1 driver (2:28.4)
• Tom Williams – Experienced British rally driver (2:29.4)
• Grégoire Munster – Full-time M-Sport Ford WRC driver (2:32.9)
• Martijn Wydaeghe – 2024 WRC co-driving champion (2:33.3)
• Takamoto Katsuta – Toyota WRC factory driver (2:36.4)
• Aoife Raftery – ERC rising star (2:41.0)
• Juha Kankkunen – Four-time WRC Champion (2:41.2)
• Esteban Ocon – Fellow F1 driver (2:56.8)

For a first-timer to sit just a few tenths off rally veterans and come out ahead of multiple world champions was nothing short of remarkable.

McErlean continued his praise for Lawson’s adaptability and racecraft:

“As a Formula 1 driver, I think you have to expect that they didn’t get there for not driving well, so I knew he was going to be quick.

“But it’s the rate of learning – like, you’re telling him to do something, and he’s doing it right away and nailing the next run.

“So yeah, it’s been nice to co-drive for him… super cool, and a very chill experience.”

With an impressive rally debut now under his belt, Liam Lawson has once again proven that raw talent and fearless adaptability are in no short supply. Whether on gravel, grass, or the Formula 1 grid, the Kiwi can pedal just about anything.

From circuit racer to rally rocket – is there anything Liam Lawson can’t drive fast?

Header Image: Goodwood Festival of Speed