raceofchampions.com
In order to view the flash content on the site you need to have the latest version of flash installed on your computer
Please dowload or upgrade at adobe.com

home > press releases

ROC at Wembley

ROC Team Germany goes for youth to compliment experience

Media information: 26 October 2007

Formula One’s youngest new star Sebastian Vettel is teaming up with seven-time F1 Champion Michael Schumacher for The Race of Champions (ROC) when it takes over Wembley Stadium later this year.

The Scuderia Toro Rosso rookie, who amazed the F1 paddock by finishing fourth in the recent Chinese Grand Prix, is a big ROC fan and cannot wait to compete in front of an expected 80,000 racing fans at Wembley this December.

“I have always watched The Race of Champions on TV every year and dreamed about participating one day,” said the 20-year-old, who was just four-years-old when his ROC team-mate Schumacher made his F1 debut in 1991. “It’s fantastic to be invited; I’m so happy. To represent Team Germany together with Michael Schumacher is a great honour.”

Wembley will be transformed into a race track using 1,800 tonnes of tarmac for the 16 December event, allowing 18 star drivers to compete head-to-head in a series of knockout heats to determine the “Champion of Champions.”

There are two competitions: The Race of Champions, where drivers compete for individual glory, and The Nations Cup, where drivers partner-up to compete for their home country.

Schumacher, who has never raced against Vettel, says he is pleased with the choice and is optimistic about Germany’s chances. “I really look forward to teaming up with Sebastian for the Race of Champions,” said the seven-time F1 World Champion. “Finally we are in one team in motorsports as well, after having played charity-soccer together in the Nazionale Piloti in Italy.

“I have known Sebastian for a long time, having given him a trophy in a karting race when he was still a boy, and I remember being impressed by his drive. I still am, after his debut in F1 this year, and I am sure we will have a lot of fun together.”

The gladiatorial event is by invitation only and with drivers from F1, rally, NASCAR, Le Mans 24 and touring cars on the guest list the racing is set to be spectacular.

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
For general enquiries call +377 97 97 22 88 or email info@raceofchampions.com