When the Dutchman with the Dutchman ...
09/20/2022
.... When things get really backwards, the sparks fly.
Max Verstappen, currently the fastest man on the F1 circuit, tested a Dutch car called the DAF 46 in Zandvoort ahead of his home GP. As the vehicle with its unique Variomaic gearbox can be driven equally fast in both directions, forwards and backwards, the reigning F1 world champion tried to beat his last year's pole time of 1:08.885 in reverse, but fell just short over the 4.259 km.
His colleague, Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri), failed to complete the lap and promptly ended up in the crash barriers.
The DAF 46 was developed from the DAF 44 in 1974 and, thanks to the De Dion rear axle (from the DAF 66) and differential, it proved to be significantly safer to drive, but not faster. It was still built for two years under Volvo management, then it was discontinued.
