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ROC at Wembley

The Race of Champions tests new cars for Wembley

  • KTM X-Bow, new ROC 2-seater and Swedish ERPRO prototype assessed for use at Wembley
  • Cars put through their paces on test track in Germany

Organisers of The Race of Champions have tested a range of new cars, with the view to possibly using them at this year’s event at Wembley Stadium on 14 December. If selected, the world’s top racers will use the machines to go head-to-head as they fight for the title of “The Champion of Champions.”

A track similar to the one that will be used at Wembley was set up on an open space at Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen, Germany – one of several venues keen to host The Race of Champions in future. This gave a chance to see how the cars would perform on the unique ROC course.

First to be tested was the KTM X-Bow, before a four-wheel-drive, motorbike-engined, Swedish prototype took to the track, as did a two-seater version of the ROC car, which is exclusive to The Race of Champions. ROC creators Michele Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson, plus former European Rally Champion Marc Duez, assessed the cars’ suitability.


A 2-seater version of the ROC Car could be used in this year’s Race of Champions

“The X-Bow is an exciting new sportscar, it looks completely unlike anything else, and the fact that it’s open means that spectators would really get to see the drivers working away in the car,” said Fredrik Johnsson, President of Event Organisers IMP.

“The 4-wheel drive car was impressive – the Hayabusa engine sounds great and the car looks spectacular, especially in the wet. For all the cars that we use in the event, however, we’re looking for a range of factors– they need to look good for the spectators, but also be fun to drive and easy to adapt to, as the drivers will jump straight from one to another in the event,” Michele Mouton continued.

Last year Aston Martin Vantages, Ford Focus WRCs, Fiat Punto Abarths and Solution F Touring Cups joined the ROC cars at The Race of Champions, as the greatest drivers in the world competed in identical machinery. More cars are set to be tested in the coming months before the final line-up is decided.


The ERPRO-built car may look like an 80%-scale Ford Fiesta, but uses a Hayabusa engine, has the benefit of four-wheel drive and power-to-weight ratio of 350bhp/tonne

Tickets for The Race of Champions are on sale now by calling 0844 412 1743, or online at www.raceofchampions.com. Adult prices start at £18 and child tickets at £9.

Notes to editors:

The ROC was created in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and the world’s best woman rally driver Michèle Mouton.

The premise is simple: using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on talent alone. The drivers compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their class champion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is the master of motorsport, the winners go head-to-head in a super final. The victor is awarded the title “The Champion of Champions”.

Drivers confirmed for 2007 include:

  • Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher
  • Formula One star Jenson Button
  • Reigning World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx
  • Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard
  • Triple Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais
  • Seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen
  • Former DTM Champion Mattias Ekström
  • Reigning NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson
  • Eight-time X-Games Champion Travis Pastrana
  • Double World Rally Champion, Marcus Grönholm
  • Renault F1’s Heikki Kovalainen
  • Scuderia Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel
  • 1995 British Rally Champion Alister McRae
  • World Touring Car Championship star Yvan Muller
  • 2003 World Rally Champion, Petter Solberg
  • Five-time Norwegian Rally Champion, Henning Solberg

This traditional end-of-season showdown attracts spectators from across Europe. For three years the event, held at the Stade de France in Paris, has attracted well over 50,000 spectators each year.

Action from the Race of Champions 2006 was broadcast in over 200 countries and watched by more than 186 million viewers.