Bottas set for Mercedes outing at Adelaide Motorsport Festival

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Valtteri Bottas, an increasingly beloved figure in Australian motorsport, is set to thrill fans with a demo run onboard a Mercedes at the Adelaide Motorsport Festival next March.

The Finn, who was made an ‘Honorary Aussie’ last year, will drive a historic DTM race-winning Mercedes 190E during the Touring Car Legends category on Sunday, March 9th.

The ten-time Grand Prix winner’s appearance comes just a week before the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, where Bottas will support his Mercedes teammates, George Russell and rookie Kimi Antonelli, in his capacity as the team's reserve driver.

As an ambassador for the Adelaide Motorsport Festival, Bottas has embraced the event with enthusiasm, further strengthening his unique bond with his adoptive country.

"We’re really privileged to have Valtteri attached to the event as a supporter and an ambassador," said Tim Possingham, event organizer.

Read also: Mercedes confirms Bottas as reserve driver for 2025

"I am constantly amazed at how he’s so quickly been adopted as an Australian motorsport identity!

“He’s embraced the quirky Aussie culture, and I love his sense of humour. He brings his humour and his personality to our event which we love and we see great value in that it fits with what we are."

A Packed Schedule for Bottas

The weekend will be a packed one for Bottas, who is set to represent Finland in the Race of Champions in Sydney on Friday and Saturday before flying to Adelaide for his participation in the second day of the festival.

From there, he will head to Melbourne to begin his duties with Mercedes at the 2025 F1 season opener at Albert Park.

Bottas himself has spoken about his excitement for his return to the Silver Arrows squad, where he will work closely with the team’s engineers and drivers in an effort to help Mercedes return to championship contention.

“As I return to the place where so many of those moments were achieved, I’m looking forward to using all the knowledge I’ve gained to help the team to perform and progress towards our goal of fighting for world championships,” the 35-year-old said last month upon confirmation of his Mercedes return.

A Star-Studded Event

The Adelaide Motorsport Festival will also feature several other high-profile motorsport personalities, including 1980 Formula 1 World Champion Alan Jones, 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill, three-time Grand Prix winner Thierry Boutsen, former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner, and F1 commentator David Croft.

With a mix of legendary cars and star-studded appearances, the Adelaide Motorsport Festival is shaping up to be a must-see event, and Bottas’ participation is sure to be a major highlight of the weekend.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.