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ROC at Wembley

Rally brothers to take on the motorsport elite in ROC

Media information: 26 November 2007

World Rally Championship (WRC) brothers Petter and Henning Solberg have laid down the gauntlet to The Race of Champions competition after being announced as the newest team for the Wembley extravaganza next month.

Petter (left) and Henning (right) Solberg are the latest additions to The Race of Champions
Petter (left) and Henning (right) Solberg are the latest additions to The Race of Champions

Just eight points separate the ultra-competitive siblings, who are currently running fifth and sixth in the WRC respectively, but for The ROC Nations Cup they will be working together for national pride as Wembley Stadium is transformed into a tarmac circuit for a champion of champions decider.

The world’s best drivers, including seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, four-time Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais and triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx, will be battling it out in identical machinery, competing individually and also for their countries in The ROC Nations Cup.

“Fantastic!,” said Petter, the 2003 World Rally Champion who currently drives for Subaru. “This is the first time Norway will be represented in The ROC Nations Cup and I think we will be a strong contender. I'm sure we will get the support of many Norwegian fans that will travel to Wembley.”

This will be the first time either of the Solberg brothers has raced in The Race of Champions. “It's a great honour to be invited and to represent Norway together with my brother,” said Henning, five-time Norwegian Rally Champion. “It’s going to be lots of fun.”  

Having brothers in The Race of Champions is not a first. In 1998 Colin and Alister McRae both made the final, with Colin just taking the chequered flag.

“We are very happy to invite Petter and Henning to The Race of Champions and the ROC Nations Cup,” said Fredrik Johnsson, President of event organiser IMP. "This year most countries are represented by two racing drivers or one racing and one rally driver but Norway will be the exception with two very talented rally drivers known for their spectacular driving style!”

To book tickets for The Race of Champions, go to www.raceofchampions.com or call +44 161 385 69 25 for less than seven tickets, or +44 207 930 3000 for eight or more. 

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)

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For media enquiries call +44(0)208 5413434 or email andyb@peformancepr.com or paul@performancepr.com
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