The New Zealander was given the opportunity to take the famous #2 machine up the hillclimb during last weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, leaving him visibly emotional after climbing behind the wheel.
Bruce McLaren shared the GT40 with Kiwi compatriot Chris Amon when the pair claimed victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966, creating one of the most celebrated moments in the country’s motorsport history.
The win is also a controversial moment in Ford’s history, as retold in the 2019 Academy Award-winning film Ford vs Ferrari.
Lawson had not expected to drive the car when he arrived at Goodwood, with the opportunity arising only after he spotted it and asked its owner whether he could have a run.
“My hands are still shaking. Very, very special, obviously, a lot of New Zealand history in this car,” Lawson said immediately after completing the hillclimb.
“I got to drive a road-going GT40 last year, and the whole time, all I could think about was this car.
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“I didn’t expect to come here and drive it. I saw it today, and I asked. I said, ‘Can I please? That’d be really, really special.’ And the owner was kind enough to let me drive it. So, very, very special.”
Lawson remained seated in the car after returning from the run, describing the experience as a bucket-list moment.
“100 percent. 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.
“The feeling you get when driving a car like this is completely… It’s indescribable. It’s not like anything that we drive currently — the vibration, the frequency, the noise.
“I was given an RPM limit not to go over, but you 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 upper [rev range], when the car just starts singing, and it’s incredible. It was very enjoyable for me.”
Speaking of the experience during Thursday’s press conference at the Belgian Grand Prix, Lawson said the significance of the car extended beyond its Le Mans success because of his connection to New Zealand’s racing heritage.
“Yeah, it was pretty cool. Obviously, growing up in New Zealand, motorsport in New Zealand and Formula 1 especially, there’s a lot of history,” he said.
“It’s been a long time since the success of those guys. Obviously, Bruce starting McLaren, and that car specifically is what won that race.
“For me, as a New Zealander growing up learning about the history and having relationships and mentors with people who were close to, or knew, the families of Bruce and Chris Amon, it was very, very cool.
“Very special. I probably won’t ever have a feeling like that again in a race car.”
Lawson returns to his Racing Bulls duties at Spa-Francorchamps carrying one of the strongest runs of form outside Formula 1’s leading teams.
The 24-year-old has scored points in seven of the opening nine races, including the last five consecutive grands prix, and enters the 10th round of the season sitting 10th in the drivers’ championship.
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His sixth-place finish at Silverstone equalled his best result of the year from Monaco and lifted him to 39 points, only three behind Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in ninth, with his tally now more than the total he accumulated across the entire 2025 season.
“It’s been very good. The car has been working very well,” Lawson said.
“I think it’s just the progression. That’s probably the most satisfying part, just the fact that each upgrade we’re bringing, or each area we’re focusing on, we’re managing to execute and find those gains that we’re searching for.
“It’s been really, really good. Obviously, it’s motorsport. Kimi [Antonelli] has gone through the last couple of weekends where sometimes there’s stuff that’s going to happen that’s out of your control.
“But right now, everything that’s in my control I’m trying to focus on, and it’s been bringing results, which has been great.”
Racing Bulls will introduce new cooling system parts in Belgium, with teammate Arvid Lindblad set to receive more of the updated package than Lawson.
Lawson nevertheless expects Spa to suit the car following its competitive showing at Silverstone, where both Racing Bulls drivers finished inside the top six.
“I hope so. Let’s see,” he said when asked about another double-points result.
“I think it’s a track that should be reasonably similar to Silverstone. I think it was a good track for us. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be strong.
“Obviously, we have new parts on the car, more on Arvid’s side, but let’s see what they do. Hopefully they work for us.”
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