Tom Cruise stars in secret Red Bull test

Red Bull have revealed that Hollywood legend Tom Cruise recently tried out one of their Formula One cars in a specially organised test in the United States. Cruise took a break from his current film project, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, to get behind the wheel at the Willow Springs circuit in California.

Cruise’s instructor for the seven-hour session was Formula One veteran David Coulthard. They began by lapping the track together in a road car before Coulthard helped Cruise familiarise himself with the F1 machine, which was supported by a 12-person crew flown in from Red Bull’s UK factory.

After a total of 24 laps, with time out between track stints to compare his telemetry to Coulthard’s, Cruise cut his initial lap time by an impressive 11 seconds and reached a top speed of 181 mph, just 4 mph short of Coulthard.

"Tom's the real deal,” Coulthard told Red Bull’s website. “I was surprised that he picked it up so quickly and is such an accomplished driver. His recall was incredible considering how complicated driving an F1 car is. He's a guy who really pushes the envelope in real life. This day was not green screened. He thoroughly impressed me."

Cruise, a long-time motorsport fan, has driven several competition cars over the years, but this was his first F1 experience. Formula One returns to his homeland next year with a race at the all-new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2011/8/12427.html

 

I hope this has nothing to do with the recently discussed F1 movie project.

 

Lucky Guy, but apparently he is a pretty decent driver as I think he did a real good job on the Top Gear Test Track as well.

 

I thought he did a good job on Top Gear too....until Mr Bean smashed his lap time.

 

Yes, true enough.
Then Mr Bean smashed up his Mclaren..

Not a big Tom C fan, but respect is due..

 

Really? I haven't seen that episode since it aired, but iirc his driving was crap. It's obvious when Jeremy sometimes gives deflated lap times to celebs. Bean's driving was genuinely great.

 

why to find a negative! I wish I had one to smash up!

 

Ditto. I like Mr Rowan, not so much his Mr Bean stuff though.

 

i liked it when he put the car on two wheels.

 

I already busted Chas for his "hair envy"
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

I wonder how many booster cushions he used.

 

Appears to be the same chassis used in rhe commercial shoot

 

He borrowed Katie's heels...

 

Agreed, pretty cool

 

+1

I can't remember a single Tom Cruise film I've actually enjoyed, because he always plays exactly the same person in every single film, but he doesn't play them well. He's much like Steven Seagal, but smaller and more irritating.

 

+1 jajajajajajajaaja
True and well put

 

I've actually met Tom Crusie - back in the 80's when he was doing the color of money with Paul Newman... met them both at Lime Rock... he was actually very shy and very nice guy - we talked cars for 30-40 min.

As for films... Risky Business is classic, and I do agree he does play the same kind of roles over and over again, but recently I think he was very good in Valkerie, and Night & Day... both very good movies.

 

Tom is an incredible guy, I have heard from various accounts this much. I am a big fan of the Adam Carolla Podcast and Adam jokes about his run in with Tom, he was over at Jimmy Kimmel's house watching football on a Sunday and Cruise showed up, with his mom and brought cupcakes! But Adam says that guy was just one of those guys that always had a smile and an energy about him that just poured out, the part that I respected was that when he took off he had learned, and remembered, everyone's names and shook hands with everyone and was very gracious on his way out. Just struck me as very neat.

He is a good actor when he does movies that are non-traditional for him, Magnolia was amazing and he was perfect and Collateral is still one of my favorites. I caught a behind the scenes of Knight and Day on HBO and he does all of his own stunts, and watching him run on rooftops with no safety net in Prague and drive the hell out the Ducati Supermotard in the move was impressive. So, I say good job Tom, a guy who does all of his own stunts and owns a P-51 Mustang gets a thumbs up in my book.

 

I wonder what kind of lap time Coulthard was doing around Willow. Track record was set first by Nigel Mansell( I forgot which F1 car) at a 1:02, but Mario Andretti broke it with an Indy car at 1:01.

 

I thought his role as the producer in Tropic Thunder was brilliant. I didn't even realize it was him for a few minutes.

Tom Cruise could probably play Lauda in the upcoming Hunt tribute film.

 

Cruise isn't totally without racing experience...


http://jalopnik.com/5604598/how-tom-cruise-earned-the-nickname-see-cruise-crash-again

 

Red Bull is all about videos this week, have you seen David Coulthard testing in Austin on the Circuit of the Americas?

Here it is: http://www.autoviva.com/member.php?id=1035&sec=post&post_id=2549

 

Here's the link without the blatant advertising.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1gmuDlt548&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

I'm impressed they gave him 24laps!

I'd be happy with 2 laps

 

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyW8FdzH9dg[/ame]