The Race of Champions

Who is the fastest?! It is decided each year at The Race of Champions where the world’s best circuit racers and off-road drivers compete head-to-head.

Created in 1988 by IMP (International Media Productions) President Fredrik Johnsson and the world’s best female rally driver, Michele Mouton, the ROC remains the only opportunity for drivers to race in exactly the same cars and on a parallel-track. The premise is simple: using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on their talent alone.

In 2006, sixteen drivers will compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their class champion. Then, in a shootout to determine who is the master of motorsport, the winners from the two divisions, rally and racing, will go head-to-head in a super final.

The winner is rewarded with the title “The Champion of Champions”.

History

The first edition of the Race of Champions, coincidentally held in Paris in 1988, gathered all the official World Rally Champions and was held in memory of the late Henri Toivonen, who died at the Corsica rally while leading the world championship in 1986. The Henri Toivonen Memorial trophy is still awarded to the winner of the individual Race of Champions.

The Race of Champions was originally conceived as the ultimate shoot-out between the best international rally stars. But experts from other disciplines have given the rally boys more than just a run for their money over the years. They include MotoGP's Valentino Rossi, six-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, four-time NASCAR Champ Jeff Gordon and seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher.

Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa and David Coulthard are the latest in a long line of F1 stars to have accepted the invitation. Other F1 drivers to have competed include Fernando Alonso and Nick Heidfeld.

Recent form

In its 20th Anniversary year, the Race of Champions boasts a list of past winners that reads like the “who’s who of racing”. DTM star Mattias Ekström took the title in 2006 and World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb took the title in 2005 and Heikki Kovalainen claimed it in 2004. They join a distinguished group that includes world rally champions Juha Kankkunen, Stig Blomqvist, Didier Auriol, Tommi Mäkinen, Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae and Marcus Gronholm.

In 2004 Nissan World Series Champion Heikki Kovalainen surprised everybody by winning over all the established stars. After beating seven-time Formula 1 Champion Michael Schumacher, the young Finn celebrated by jumping up and down on the red Ferrari! He then went on to beat Sebastien Loeb in the ROC Super-Final to take the “Champion of Champions” title.

In 2003, Sebastien Loeb ended his season on a high note by winning a re-match of the 2002 ROC final, beating Finland's two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm. Loeb defeated Gronholm two heats to nil, both victories achieved by little more than a car length.

In 2002, World Rally Champion Marcus Gronholm got the edge on the WRC's hottest young star Sebastien Loeb by a nose length in the third and decisive final.
In 2001, first-timer Harri Rovanpera defeated Armin Schwarz to take the title and, in the year previous, Tommi Mäkinen defeated Marcus Gronholm in an all-Finnish affair.

The Nations Cup

Since its creation in 1999, The ROC Nations Cup is the World Cup of motorsport - wheel to wheel action for national pride. Eight motorsport-mad countries temporarily throw away entente cordiale for the desire to win.

Nations represented by two drivers compete for the title of “The Fastest Nation of the World”.

Finland , France , Spain and the USA have already taken the trophy in the past. This innovative competition keeps spectators on their toes from start to finish.

History

The concept of using identical cars and parallel track has proven to be not only exciting and decisive means of determining an individual “Champion of Champions”, but is also the ideal format for a national team competition. In 1999, IMP expanded the event to include The ROC Nations Cup which added incredible depth to The Race of Champions and has become a focal point for drivers and fans alike.

In what is effectively The World Cup of motorsport, The ROC Nations Cup is the only opportunity for racers from different countries and disciplines of motorsport to compete in equal machinery and on an equal track. Disciplines represented include Formula 1, NASCAR, World Rally Championship, IRL, Champ Car and European Touring Cars.

Recent form

Last year The Nations Cup was taken by team Finland by a jubilant Heiki Kovalainen and Marcus Gronhölm.

In 2005 Team Scandinavia fought and won a close battle with Team PlayStation France.

In 2004 Sebastien Loeb and Jean Alesi won the Nations Cup in front of the enthusiastic homecrowd at Stade de France , by beating Finland 's Heikki Kovalainen and Marcus Gronholm 3- 2 in the Final.

In 2003, in the Canary Islands, Brazilian F1 star Cristiano da Matta, Spanish bike star Fonzi Nieto and Mitsubishi's French WRC driver, Gilles Panizzi , scored the first ever victory for an international All Stars team, defeating Spain in the final, three heats to two.

In 2002, the USA (represented by 4-time NASCAR Champion Jeff Gordon, Superbike World Champion Colin Edwards and multiple NASCAR winner Jimmie Johnson), defeated Italy's 2002 250 cc Moto GP World Champion Marco Melandri, 2002 European Rally Champion Renato Travaglia and 2002 European Touring Car Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi, to take the title.

In 2001, Spain 's Fernando Alonso, Jesus Puras and Ruben Xaus defeated the All Stars' Harri Rovanpera, Troy Bayliss and Tom Kristensen , a particularly sweet victory for the 25 000 Spaniards gathered at the circuit in Gran Canaria.

In 2000, it was France 's turn as Regis Laconi, Yvan Muller and Gilles Panizzi defeated Italians Valentino Rossi, Emanuele Pirro and Miki Biasion in the final.

The inaugural event in 1999 was won by the Finnish line-up of Tommi Makinen, JJ. Letho and Kari Tiainen. It was decided in a nail-biting final that saw the Nordic trio beat Spain 's Carlos Sainz, Pere Riba and Marc Gene in the last decisive heat.