SimplyAbuDhabi XLII

Cruise of course no stranger to racing; his role as a NASCAR driver in ‘Days of Thunder’ solidified his position as a Hollywood luminary. But mastering the intricacies of an FI vehicle was another matter altogether. So, first came a technical briefing from none other than F1 legend David Coulthard, 13-time Grand Prix winner. And then Cruise was off. Barring a single incident where he briefly skidded off track, Cruise completed 24 laps and was just 6.4 km/h slower than Coulthard’s regular pace. By his final lap, his lap time had improved by a considerable 11 seconds. Impressed, Coulthard was quoted as saying: “Tom’s the real deal. 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.’ 78 | Simply Abu Dhabi