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ROC drivers in heaven with technical pick and mix
Media information: 28 November 2007
Drivers in The Race of Champions will be competing in a selection of five cars, it was confirmed today, after FIAT and the Solution F prototype touring car announced their participation.
FIAT Grande Punto S2000 Abarth
FIAT will be supplying its Grande Punto S2000 Abarth, a champion car that counts the European FIA Rally Championship, the International Rally Challenge and the Italian Rally Championship amongst its titles.
FIAT Abarth’s Racing Operations Director, Claudio Berro, says the car will definitely add spice to The Race of Champions action, which already promises to be a thrilling event with drivers including Michael Schumacher, Jenson Button and David Coulthard battling it out at Wembley Stadium in a champion of champions decider.
“The famous scorpion badge was chosen as a clear indication of what Abarth was all about,” said Berro, referring to FIAT’s performance arm. “Small cars with a big sting in the tail!
“Our car is a rally car, therefore it is designed for the tortuous and narrow roads; I think it will do very will on the demanding track at Wembley Stadium!”
Solution F
Meanwhile the prototype Solution F car, which proved extremely successful in the Dubai 24 Hours race where it dominated its class podium, is perfectly suited to the tight, demanding circuit according to the car’s Technical Director, Hugues Baude.
“For The ROC it’s a new car,” he said. “But we have been racing with it for two years in France and Belgium. It’s a very easy-to-drive car. The drivers will be able to get around the corners at top speed!
Former rally star and The ROC co-founder Michèle Mouton, along with Assistant Race Director, Marc Duez, tested the Solution F ahead of the event and provided great feedback.
Both cars, along with the previously announced Ford Focus WRC, Aston Martin Vantage N24 and the ROC Car, will be equipped by official ROC partner Castrol EDGE Oil, after it too announced its affiliation with The Race of Champions.
“This is a great concept because it levels the playing field by providing everyone identical track conditions and car equipment and becomes a great test of driving skill,” said Castrol’s Global Manager Shyam Balasubramanian. “The recently launched Castrol EDGE Sport is designed to provide maximum horsepower for longer. We think that sustained horsepower will be at the top of the contestants’ and spectators’ minds so the event and the product have a great fit!”
Sixteen drivers are confirmed for The Race of Champions, many of them multiple champions from disciplines including F1, touring cars, NASCAR, Champ Car, rally and sports car.
They will be competing in identical cars around the specially-designed parallel track watched by an expected 80,000 crowd, all with a perfect view of every second of action.
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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