Gene Haas, founder of the eponymous Haas team, will soon be taking the wheel of one of his Formula 1 cars. The American racing team will travel to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, one of the world’s largest motorsport events, with a large delegation after the British Grand Prix. On the famous hillclimb, Haas will put the VF-23 through its paces. Team boss Ayao Komatsu and both Haas drivers will also be in action.
A few weeks ago, Gene Haas and Ayao Komatsu got a taste of what’s to come during a private test at Silverstone. The team owner and the Japanese team boss drove a few warm-up laps to familiarize themselves with the equipment as much as possible. Kazuki Nakajima, Vice President of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe – a key partner of Haas – will also participate in the Goodwood hillclimb. He will likely need less preparation; Nakajima raced 41 Grands Prix for Williams between 2007 and 2009.
The Goodwood Festival of Speed will take place this year from July 10 to 13. While the team management will be in action on Thursday and Friday, current Haas drivers Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon will take over for the weekend. The Red Bull team will also be present again during the festivities in the south of England. Last year, the team used the Festival of Speed to celebrate its twentieth anniversary, and this year it will once again bring a large number of Formula 1 cars. Drivers David Coulthard and Patrick Friesacher will perform demonstration laps in the RB8 and the RB9.
