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

Schumacher lured by the thrill of the chase

Media information: 13 December 2007

Only three days remain before Michael Schumacher makes his competitive racing return in The Race of Champions this Sunday (16 December) and the motorsport legend has been talking about his reasons for coming back.

Partly tempted by his support for The Race of Champion’s chosen charity, the Institute for Brain and Spinal Cord Disorders (ICM), Schumacher cannot deny he is also looking forward to the camaraderie of the day and the unique event.

Schumacher with Sébastien Loeb at The Race of Champions in 2004
Schumacher with Sébastien Loeb at The Race of Champions in 2004

“I remember having a lot of fun,” said Schumacher, speaking of his first ROC appearance in 2004. “I thought it was a marvellous event, especially for the spectators who really seemed to enjoy themselves and cheered us all up.

“But it was also extremely funny for us drivers, who got to know each other a bit better, competing for fun. So I have only good memories on this last event I was participating.”

All the world-class drivers at Wembley this Sunday will be helping to raise money for ICM, which carries out ground-breaking research into brain damage and head trauma.

Fredrik Johnsson, President of The Race of Champions’ organisers IMP, is a long-time supporter and is delighted that ICM will be The ROC’s official charity for the fourth consecutive year.

Amongst the fund-raising activities, a portion of profits from tickets sales will be given to ICM, whose representatives are expected to be at Wembley Stadium. They will also receive signed, exclusive racing gear to auction from the drivers, as well as appeals on the official TV broadcasting.

“I will race in London because The Race of Champions is supporting ICM, an initiative which I am extremely proud about being part of,” said Schumacher, who is an avid supporter. “To me, combining the racing and the charity is the perfect option.

“My part in this organisation is rather small, as the other founder members are extraordinary people, but I am happy to at least support ICM with trying to heighten the awareness about it.”

For more information on ICM visit the website at www.icm-institute.org.

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)

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