Dublin will be packed with petrol heads on Sunday afternoon, when Red Bull take to the streets for the F1 show run.
13 time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard is the star attraction, driving the 2011 world championship-winning Red Bull RB7 on the banks of the Liffey during Sunday's show run.
He will be joined by Corkman Conor Shanahan, who will display his expert drifting skills, and Danish stunt motorcycle rider Mike Jensen.
It's set to be a thrilling spectacle and, speaking to the media on Friday, Red Bull athletes Coulthard, Shanahan, and Jensen all spoke of their excitement to be taking part in such a special event in Dublin.
Red Bull Dublin F1 run: Coulthard, Shanahan, and Jensen share excitement
David Coulthard is well versed in the F1 show run business at this stage. He will be driving the 2011 Red Bull RB7 in Dublin on Sunday - but he arrived as early as Thursday, to soak up the atmosphere in one of his favourite cities to visit:
I'm normally not in town for a show car event this early. I arrived yesterday, that's how excited I am.
I love coming to Dublin, I've got friends here. I've come over with an Irish friend who lives in Monaco. I've been wandering around already, getting a nice breeze through my lungs.
It's an opportunity for me not only to connect with the race fans in Ireland but to get back in a Formula 1 car. I'm 51, Red Bull are a very loyal family...I'm still a part of that journey. In my role on television, it's easy to forget how adrenaline fuelled it is to drive a Grand Prix car, even if it is the generation prior to the current one.
I believe the weather is going to be good, I had the sunglasses on this morning. I didn't expect to be unpacking them this morning!
It will be a particularly special run for Conor Shanahan. The young Corkonian will take to the streets of Dublin to put on a show for the home fans, after another impressive season in the Drift Masters European Championship, which saw him finish in 3rd place - just behind brother Jack.
Red Bull Athlete Irish Drifter Conor Shanahan ahead of the Red Bull F1 Showrun which takes place on Sunday on Dublin’s North Wall Quay. David Coulthard will put on an epic motorsports spectacle, showcasing the intense power and speed of Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2008 Championship Winning RB7 car joined by Conor Shanahan and Mike Jensen. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
Taking his drift car to the streets of the capital as part of the Red Bull show run will undoubtedly be a special moment for Shanahan, and he spoke at Friday's press conference of his excitement to be a part of the event:
To be involved...these events are always quite special, to showcase your sport alongside the pinnacle of motorsport.
It's quite interesting to see how much attention this has brought, every time we've had an event this year - even my own personal events - it has opened my eyes to how big motorsport is here and it's only getting bigger. That's incredible.
It's always quite special to drive at home, it's not something I get to do much anymore. For me to come and showcase my sport and for people to be able to buy tickets to come and watch us is quite cool. I'm just looking forward to putting on a show.
The course for Sunday's event runs along the Quays in Dublin will see the drivers tackle a stretch from the 3Arena back towards the Samuel Beckett Bridge, and Coulthard is impressed by the opportunity it presents to show off the F1 car at its full potential:
It's quite a good course, if it's dry, for a Formula 1 car. Sometimes we're quite tight and not on a particularly long area, so you can't display the performance.
Mike Jensen's run will no doubt be spectacular, with the Danish stunt rider set to wow fans. When asked if they would be comfortable hopping on the back of Jensen's bike, Shanahan and Coulthard had very different answers:
Coulthard: I went once on track with Mick Doohan, who was a five-time 500cc world champion and an incredible rider...I was meant to do three laps. After one lap, I was tapping him so hard to stop the bike! I don't want to sound inappropriate, but I was shitting myself. I was so scared, even though I trusted in him 100%, it blew my mind what was possible on two wheels. It was so out of my comfort zone. I think he did one more lap before he eventually stopped, I think I had one hand on his neck by that point!
Shanahan: I'd be up for it - I ride bikes myself. I know the skill that guy [Jensen] has, to be able to ride a bike like that. I trust him, I'd be up for it!
The Red Bull Dublin show run is completely sold out, with 10,000 fans expected to attend. Shanahan thinks he could have filled the allocation himself with the amount of ticket requests he has received in recent weeks, while Coulthard teased the appearance of Bono among the VIPs at the event.
We'd be surprised to see the U2 frontman on Sunday, but no doubt it will be a spectacular event all the same. Balls.ie will be there to bring you all the action.
Feature photo credits: 2023 Red Bull Showrun, North Wall Quay, Dublin 13/1/2023 - Pictured is Former Formula One Driver David Coulthard, Red Bull Athlete’s Irish Drifter Conor Shanahan and Motorcycle Stunt Rider Mike Jensen ahead of the Red Bull F1 Showrun which takes place on Sunday on Dublin’s North Wall Quay. David Coulthard will put on an epic motorsports spectacle, showcasing the intense power and speed of Oracle Red Bull Racing’s 2008 Championship Winning RB7 car joined by Conor Shanahan and Mike Jensen. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane
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