The VCARB duo are no strangers to top speeds in Formula 1, but to pass this new stock test they had to unlearn pretty much everything they knew about handling the aerodynamically precise F1 cars .
Fortunately, they had van Gisbergen (SVG) and Zilisch, two experienced mentors, at their side. SVG is a three-time Australian supercar champion, who recently set the fastest lap at Talladega (2024) at almost 321 km/h in a modern NASCAR Cup Series car. Zilisch is a North Carolina native and has achieved impressive career success, with championships in junior karting, a win at the 24 Hours of Daytona and much more. Earlier this year, he made his debut in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and, at age 18, became the second-youngest winner in series history by winning his first weekend at Watkins Glen International.
The adjustments needed to master a stock car go beyond the remarkable differences in weight and track surface – it takes a lot of sensitivity to handle these American cars through and through. An example? Stock cars only have brakes on three of their four wheels to negotiate the corners of the oval. “If you brake, it helps pull the car through the corner,” SVG said as he coached the F1 duo. “Rely more on the brake and accelerator than on the steering to determine the direction of the car.”
The two NASCAR professionals coached Tsunoda and Lawson through a series of sophisticated challenges that included positioning the car, properly turning corners and finally doing a timed qualifying lap so the F1 drivers could familiarize themselves with their 500 horsepower naturally aspirated V8 engines. After three qualifying rounds, the serious things began: they dueled for victory in a neck-and-neck race.
