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ROC at Wembley

Champion cars and drivers for ROC

Media information: 21 November 2007

2007 Ford Focus World Rally Championship car driven by Grönholm, both of which will take part in The Race of Champions next month
2007 Ford Focus World Rally Championship car driven by Grönholm, both of which will take part in The Race of Champions next month

With The Race of Champions (ROC) full of star names, the cars needed to be worthy of the incredible line-up so organisers are today delighted to confirm two of the biggest names in motorsport.

Both Ford, the 2007 World Rally Manufacturer champions, and Aston Martin will be at the December 16 event, which will see Wembley Stadium transformed into a tarmac race track.

The ROC drivers, including Ford’s own Marcus Grönholm, will be competing in the actual Ford Focus WRC car shortly after the championship’s final round, in which Grönholm hopes to emerge victorious.

Director of Ford Team RS, Jost Capito said it was fitting that The ROC cars, as well as the drivers, should be proven winners. “We’re already manufacturer champions this year and it only remains to put all our weight behind Marcus for the drivers title,” he said. 

“It can sometimes be difficult to do justice to the skill and bravery required in rally, because the course is so long. The Race of Champions gives us a chance to show-case Marcus and the car in front of all our fans. I’m sure it will be an incredible day.”

The Aston Martin Vantage N24 at Wembley earlier this year
The Aston Martin Vantage N24 at Wembley earlier this year

As well as the Ford Focus WRC car The ROC contestants, including David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Tom Kristensen, will again be put to the test in the Aston Martin Vantage N24.

The spectacular car, which is a variant of the V8 Vantage developed by Aston Martin for the Nurburgring 24 Hours endurance race, caused a storm at The Race of Champions 2006, producing some of the most thrilling action.

“We are delighted to once again have such prestigious and exciting cars in The ROC line-up,” said Fredrik Johnsson, President of event organizer’s IMP. “On top of the race-prepared Aston Martins and the World Rally Championship-winning Ford, we expect to announce more spectacular cars in the coming weeks.

“Of course, there will also be the ROC Cars that are so popular with the drivers and spectators. With its six speed sequential gearbox, great horsepower to weight ratio (175 bhp for less than 400 kgs) and superb handling the completely neutral ROC Cars are perfect for the decisive heats which can get pretty intense!”

The ROC promises to provide a spectacular winter fix for the 80,000 expected racing fans, with drivers from Formula 1, World Touring Cars, NASCAR and Sports Car competing in a champion of champions decider.

The ROC Buggie at The Stade de France
The ROC Buggie at The Stade de France

 

Engine

Transmission

Body Shell

Ford Focus WRC
  • 1998cc
  • Four cylinders
  • 16 valves
  • 300bhp at 6000rpm
  • Sequential gearbox
  • Five-speed
  • Electro-hydraulically controlled shift
  • Four-wheel drive
  • Length: 4362mm
  • Width: 1800mm
  • Weight: 1230kg

Aston Martin Vantage N24
  • 4300cc
  • V8 all alloy
  • 32 valve
  • 410bhp at 7500rpm
  • Six-speed Sportshift semi-automatic gearbox
  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Length: 4380 mm
  • Width: 1865 mm
  • Weight: 1350kg

ROC Buggie
  • 1100 cc
  • 4 cylinders
  • 16 valves
  • 170bhp at 9500rpm
  • Sequential gearbox
  • Six-speed
  • Rear-wheel drive
  • Length: 3400 mm
  • Width: 2000mm
  • Weight: 475kg

Editors’ Notes

Copyright-free hi-res photos are available to download at www.raceofchampions.com or by calling Andy Bothwell or Paul Rayner at Performance PR on +44 (0)208 5413434. Alternatively you can E-mail andyb@performancepr.com or paul@performancepr.com.

The Race of Champions was started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most successful female rally driver.

The Race Of Champions event on December 14 will be made up of two separate competitions – The ROC Nations Cup and The Race of Champions.

Each competition pits drivers against each other in a head-to-head knockout format, with equal equipment ensuring races are won and lost on talent alone.

The ROC Nations Cup features drivers paired into teams based on their nationality. The teams then fight head-to-head against each other in knockout competition. Last year Team Germany (Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel) beat Team Finland (Marcus Grönholm and Heikki Kovalainen) in the final.

The Race Of Champions is a straightforward knockout competition, where 16 drivers go head-to-head until the champion is decided. In last year’s Final, Mattias Ekström beat Michael Schumacher in the third race of a best-of-three battle.

Already confirmed for The Race of Champions 2008 are:

  • Seven-times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Team Germany)
  • Triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx (Team Autosport Great Britain)
  • Honda Racing F1 Team race winner Jenson Button (Team Autosport Great Britain)
  • Toro Rosso F1 racer Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany)

IMP, Les Caravelles, 25 Boulevard Albert 1er, MC 98000, MONACO
For media enquiries call +44(0)208 5413434 or email andyb@peformancepr.com or paul@performancepr.com
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