Max Verstappen reflects on Abu Dhabi 2021. Plus: Rovanperä will compete in Dubaï and Gran Turismo celebrates its 27th birthday.

Welcome to Draft Line Digest, your weekly racing newsletter for the latest motorsport news! From the track to the garage and beyond, we’ve got you covered, whether you're a die-hard Formula 1 fan or a rookie regarding anything with four wheels and an engine.

In this issue: Max Verstappen remembers the finale of the 2021 F1 Season, two-time WRC Champion Kalle Rovanperä will start 2025 with an endurance race in Dubaï and a famous videogame was release 27 years ago. Rev it up and let’s go!

Starting Grid

• 🇳🇱Max Verstappen reflects on Abu Dhabi 2021

• 🇫🇮Kalle Rovanperä to compete in Endurance racing

• 🎮Gran Turismo celebrates its 27th birthday

• 🎙️Speedy Wisdom

🇳🇱Max Verstappen reflects on Abu Dhabi 2021

"If I had to relive the day of my first title, I honestly think I would die of a heart attack." These are the words of the four-time Formula 1 World Champion as he describes the controversial finale of the 2021 season.

For those who forgot, the 2021 F1 World Championship was decided in the very last lap, with the native of Hasselt emerging victorious. It was the first of what would become a long streak of championships, but one he absolutely does not wish to experience again, as he stated on Red Bull's "Talking Bull" podcast.

In addition to revisiting that nightmare in the United Arab Emirates, Verstappen revealed on the podcast that—according to his wife—his hands were “icy” before the race. He also remarked that such races are "great to watch again but not to relive".

🇫🇮Kalle Rovanperä to compete in Endurance racing

Before heading to Monte Carlo, two-time World Rally Champion Kalle Rovanperä will take part in endurance racing. He is set to make his debut at the Dubai 24 Hours, scheduled for January 10–12. In November, Rovanperä had already driven a Formula 1 car during a private test session.

The Finnish driver will race for the Proton Huber Competition team, alongside teammates Jukka Honkavuori, Jani Kakela, German Rally Champion Mark Wallenwein, and Joel Monegro.

This is not the first time Rovanperä has raced on a circuit. Earlier this year, he competed in the Porsche Carrera Cup Benelux and Italian Championships. In the Benelux Championship, the Finn secured 4th place overall, with victories in Italy, Austria, and Belgium while driving for RedAnt Racing.

🎮Gran Turismo celebrates its 27th birthday

On December 23, 1997, a video game revolution hit Japan just in time for Christmas. Gran Turismo was released and changed forever the landscape of video gaming and motorsport culture.

Created by Kazunori Yamauchi, the original Gran Turismo became the best-selling game in PlayStation history, with an impressive 10.85 million copies sold.

The game featured 140 unique cars, each with its own distinct driving behavior, and 11 tracks rendered in groundbreaking 3D graphics for the time. Gran Turismo played a significant role in boosting the popularity of iconic cars like the Nissan GT-R, Toyota Supra GT, and Dodge Viper GTS-R.

Recognized as a cult classic, Gran Turismo has been a staple of every PlayStation generation. Its latest installment, My First Gran Turismo, launched in 2024, continuing the series' legacy.

Take a journey through the evolution of Gran Turismo from 1997 to today below:

🎙️Speedy Wisdom