Liam Lawson kicked off his two-week break from Formula 1 duties in style, getting behind the wheel of a 2025 Ford Puma Rally1 car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed late Friday night (NZST).
The Kiwi took on the festival’s famed Forest Rally Stage, co-driven by Irish rally star Josh McErlean, a current competitor in the World Rally Championship with M-Sport Ford WRT.
“It was incredible,” Lawson told DirtFish after his 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!”
When asked how quick he was on the stage, Lawson replied:
“Ah, I don’t know, I’m just trying to battle it. I hit a couple of banks and things and was just trying to keep the car straight, probably too straight, to be honest.”
McErlean was full of praise for Lawson’s performance behind the wheel, especially given it was his first time driving a top-tier rally car.
“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….”
“And not an easy stage”, DirtFish added.
“No, it’s not, 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,” said McErlean
McErlean continued his praise of the 23-year-old Kiwi:
“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 that he can like you’re telling him to do something and he’s doing it right away and he’s nailing the next run.
“So yeah, it’s been nice to co-drive for him. You’re telling him what gears to do, what the corner is, basically calling simplified pace notes. So he’s been super cool, and it’s been a very chill experience”
But rallying wasn’t the only treat in store for Lawson fans at Goodwood.
Later in the day, he also returned to the iconic 1.8 km hillclimb, this time in the RB7 Formula 1 car from 2011, rebranded in a special VCARB livery and adorned with his racing number 30. It was a full-circle moment for Lawson, who first drove an F1 car, the very same RB7, at the Festival of Speed back in 2021.
He’ll be joined on the hillclimb throughout the weekend by Red Bull’s long-time demo driver Patrick Friesacher and former Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, as the Goodwood action continues to thrill fans both trackside and around the world.
Header Image: Goodwood Festival of Speed
