Lawson dreams of competing in a Supercars race at Bathurst.

      Liam Lawson confirmed that he would like to one day race in the Bathurst 1000, which is held at the famous Australian Mount Panorama circuit as part of the Supercars touring car championship season. It’s the most popular series in Australia; this weekend the 1,000-mile race is taking place in Bathurst, and Liam went there to cheer on his close friend, New Zealand driver Matt Payne, who is competing in a Grove Racing Ford Mustang S650.

      Lawson is familiar with the circuit; in the winter of 2023 he did demonstration laps there behind the wheel of an RB7, Red Bull Racing’s 2011 car.

      “Absolutely, I’d like that!” Lawson said in an interview with Speedcafe when asked whether he planned to ever take the start at Bathurst. “After I drove this circuit in a Formula 1 car, I developed a desire to race here, and I would happily compete at Bathurst in the future. Right now I’m here supporting Matt Payne; he’s one of my best friends, we grew up together, constantly competing on karting tracks, and I hope he’s the one who wins this race.”

      Matt Payne is regarded as one of the most talented young Supercars drivers; he has already notched several victories, and after the first nine rounds of the season he sits second in the championship standings. In their youth he and Liam lived on the same street in the New Zealand town of Pukekohe and karted together.

      And now Lawson has confirmed that he has a definite desire to try his hand at this 1,000-mile race, if the Formula 1 calendar allows: “When I was growing up I often watched the races held on this circuit. So I’d also like to race here someday.”