Lawson will be laying down demonstration laps for the event, but there’s a possibility the unofficial lap record (currently held by former F1 Champion, Jenson Button) could be broken in the process.
Kiwi driver, Liam Lawson, will have the opportunity to lap the iconic Mount Panorama for the very first time in February. A special experience for any professional drive, but to be presented with the chance to drive the circuit in a F1 car is a very special opportunity indeed. To our knowledge, only Craig Lowndes and Jenson Button have lapped the circuit in a (modern era) F1 car previously.
Red Bull clearly have confidence in Lawson to allow him to navigate the extremely challenging and notoriously unforgiving circuit in Formula One car.
The 20 year-old rising star will lead Oracle Red Bull Racing's highly anticipated demonstration sessions at the upcoming Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, driving the 2011 Red Bull RB7 Formula 1 Car across the weekend.
Lawson is well credentialed to drive a Red Bull Formula 1 car, having proven himself among the current crop of F1 talent in several outings last year.
He completed Friday practice sessions for Alpha Tauri at last year's Belgian and Mexican Grands Prix, before jumping into the Oracle Red Bull Racing 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.
His talent and the 2011 Championship winning form of the 2011 RB7 race car bode well for the unofficial lap record to be broken. No pressure.
The record was set in 2011 by former F1 Champ, Jenson Button, in the 2008 season McLaren MP4-23. A car closely matched with the RB7 Lawson will be piloting.
Even if the lap record doesn’t fall, Lawson is expected to lap significantly faster than the current Supercars lap record held by Chaz Mostert at 2:04.76. As it will be a demonstration lap however, Lawson’s time will not be counted officially.
Lawson who started his racing career in New Zealand and is on a trajectory to Formula 1. The Bathurst appearance will serve as a nice prelude to his 2023 season where Lawson will move to Japan and contest the Super Formula Championship with Team Mugen. He will also still remain a reserve F1 driver.
"I'm super excited! I've never been to Bathurst before so it'll be a first for me” Said Lawson of the opportunity.
"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.”
