Worlds collided when Trackhouse Racing teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch met up with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson in Texas earlier this 12 months. All 4 Purple Bull athletes acquired collectively to see what would occur while you put an F1 driver in a inventory automobile on a dust oval no much less.
Van Gisbergen is a three-time Supercars champion who turned a full-time NASCAR driver after his gorgeous Cup win debut within the 2023 Chicago Avenue Course race. Zilisch isn’t any slouch both as one of many greatest rising stars on the planet of inventory automobile racing, this 12 months profitable his Xfinity debut race at simply 18 years previous and snagging a category win within the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona.
Each have been there to teach the F1 pilots as they realized their approach across the observe. Tsunoda, who’s at the moment competing in his fourth full-time season as an F1 driver, was paired with Zilisch. To the shock of none, SVG chosen his fellow Kiwi (Lawson).
Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
With a useful ‘Grime 101’ whiteboard, the NASCAR stars knowledgeable Tsunoda and Lawson of what awaited them within the challenges forward. They defined the vehicles and the way they function, however maybe it could have been less complicated to invoke the immortal phrases of Doc Hudson: “Flip proper to go left.”
With assist from their NASCAR coaches, the 2 drivers began their check with ‘discovering the road’ — maintaining the automobile inside two bollards whereas ripping across the observe. Tsunoda nailed it on his first attempt, nevertheless it did not go as easily for Lawson. SVG famous he wished Lawson “up on the fence,” however Lawson maybe took that too actually, clobbering one of many outer bollards that lined the wall. Nevertheless, he had a little bit of redemption within the ‘cornering velocity’ check that adopted as Tsunoda misplaced the tail and spun out. Sure, swear phrases did come throughout the radio, however would we’ve anticipated the rest?
Now on equal floor, it is on to qualifying the place Tsunoda re-asserted himself with a lap time a number of tenths quicker than Lawson. It gave Tsunoda the popular line for the beginning with the 2 NASCAR drivers recognizing them from above. Zilisch fastidiously defined the place the acceleration zone was however the fiery Japanese driver wasn’t very . “I am going each time I need so inform Liam that,” he radioed.
Liam Lawson
Photograph by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
In the meantime, SVG had some very NASCAR-esque recommendation for his countryman. “You are additionally on the within for Flip 1 so do not be afraid to feed him a proper rear.”
Tsunoda took early management however Lawson was combating laborious to stick with him over the course of the five-lap dash race. He did feed him that proper rear about midway by means of the race, however Tsunoda appeared unfazed and carried on. In a slide job that might make dust racing ace (and 2021 NASCAR Cup champion) Kyle Larson proud, Lawson completely despatched it in on Tsunoda to lastly take the lead. Though he fully cleared him, Tsunoda was intelligent sufficient to cross again beneath him and snag the victory.
In reality, Tsunoda’s solely hiccup was holding the trophy backwards throughout the post-race celebrations, however a urgent query stays: When can we get to see them face off towards their NASCAR counterparts?
You possibly can watch and benefit from the shenanigans within the Purple Bull Motorsports video beneath.
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