Liam Lawson has taken a step outdoors of his Formulation 1 consolation zone to tackle NASCAR convert Shane van Gisbergen and Formulation Drift star “Mad Mike” Whiddett in Pink Bull’s new rural three-discipline problem.
The New Zealand trio have been dropped onto a distant farm for what Pink Bull billed as a points-based Rural Rumble, mixing a ProLite stadium truck time trial, a drift goal check and a four-lap lawnmower race decider.
However whereas Lawson’s cv is constructed on the precision of open-wheel racing, this format rewarded quick adaptation.
The opening ProLite time trial instantly highlighted the distinction in expertise between the drivers. Whiddett, operating first in his personal 400-horsepower truck, set the preliminary tempo, earlier than Lawson produced the faster lap however missed the bounce goal and took a five-second penalty.
Van Gisbergen then stitched collectively a cleaner run and stopped the clock at 59.06 whereas additionally hitting the goal, taking the utmost 75 factors and leaving Lawson third after spherical one.
The drift phase swung the competitors again into Lawson’s favour. Whiddett hit 5 of the six hanging targets to place stress on, however van Gisbergen’s run grew to become the weekend’s worst run when he stopped a spin earlier than hitting even a single goal. Lawson, final to go, then hit all six targets for the session win and hauled himself into a decent battle earlier than the finale.
That left the lawnmower race as a straight shootout. Van Gisbergen initially managed observe place, however Whiddett and Lawson used the joker lane early to leap him, and the order shuffled as soon as once more when van Gisbergen responded together with his personal joker.
A late lunge briefly put van Gisbergen forward, however a mistake from the driving force opened the door and Whiddett reclaimed the result in the flag — in consequence, the drifter topped the general standings.
Lawson, who might barely cease himself from falling off the racing lawnmower, completed final.
Lawson now turns again to his 2026 F1 marketing campaign with Racing Bulls, whereas van Gisbergen resumes his NASCAR Cup Sequence programme with Trackhouse Racing.
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