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IN MOTORSPORTS

THE ULTIMATE

SHOWDOWN

Mattias Ekstrom (SWE) of Team Sweden and Felix Rosenqvist (SWE) of Team Nordic driving the

ULTIMATE

FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS, ROC has traveled the world to create the definitive showdown in international motorsports. The annual Race Of Champions® and ROC Nations Cup® provide the answer to the one question that truly matters...

...who is the fastest of them all?

RACE.

A Minute of Purest ROC Video

Concept
ROC Düsseldorf 2010_Action_Top Shot_Team Nordic Krisenten vs Team France Loeb in Porsche 9

CONCEPT

They don’t have this problem in athletics, golf or tennis. Those are sports where the best competitor on the day will win, period. Running shoes, clubs and racquets simply don’t matter as much as the human being attached to them.

Motor sport is different. With its wide range of different cars, Formula 1 alone throws up enough arguments about who’s ‘the best’ to keep the world’s bars buzzing into the early hours. Throw the World Rally Championship, Le Mans and IndyCar into the mix and all hell breaks loose. The title of ‘World’s Greatest Driver’ suddenly has as many candidates as there are world heavyweight boxing champions. 

That’s where the Race Of Champions comes in, solving the debates once and for all. This annual event brings together the world’s finest drivers from all the disciplines of competition – on four wheels and two – and sets them free to battle, head-to-head, on the very same track in the very same car. 

Better still, unlike all other types of motor sport, the unique venue setting means the crowd gets much closer to the action. There’s no waiting around to see just one quick glimpse of the cars and stars – the whole course is permanently in view. The fans see every corner, every slide, every move, every spin.

 

For the racers, then, there’s no place to hide. It’s a knockout tournament so mistakes prove terminal – and the drivers have to prove themselves in a variety of vehicles. But there’s no blaming the machinery because everyone gets the same kit. Put simply, the best driver will win. 

That’s why the greats of motor sport come back year on year. They crave the chance to let their hair down, free from commitments to sponsors, and push to the limit in everything from tin-tops to buggies. Better still, they love to hear the screams of thousands of fans over the roar of the engines. 

But behind the smiles the inner steel hasn’t changed. As soon as they’re on the line watching the lights, engine revving, foot twitching, the winning mentality that earned them their glory returns. Add the spice of a flag attached to their cockpit – particularly during the ROC Nations Cup where they race for their home country – and they need no further motivation. 

ROC
Mattias Ekstrom (SWE) of Team Sweden and Felix Rosenqvist (SWE) of Team Nordic driving the

RACE OF CHAMPIONS

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The Race Of Champions is a knockout competition where the world’s greatest drivers battle to prove they’re the fastest on Earth. Through a series of head-to-head races in identical cars, the stars fight it out to prove they have what it takes to be crowned ‘Champion of Champions’. 

The event starts with a group stage to ensure fans get to see plenty of action from every driver. The racers face up to each of the other drivers in their group, with cars swapped round between heats so they all have to prove themselves in a variety of machinery. The most successful drivers move on to the quarter-finals. 

From there it’s back to a head-to-head, no second chances, knockout competition to get to the semi-finals and then the Grand Final. Just as with all the world’s great cup competitions, the tension builds all the way through to this best-of-three shootout where there can be only one ‘Champion of Champions’. 

ROC NATIONS CUP

The ROC Nations Cup aims to decide the fastest country on Earth. It is the World Cup of motor sport. Featured at the Race Of Champions since 1999, it was the first motor sport event for teams based on nationality. 

Drivers team up with their fellow countrymen in pairs. Each driver initially has one race against a driver from the opposing team, competing head-to-head in identical cars as in the individual Race Of Champions. If the score is tied at 1-1, the two winning drivers battle it out in a play-off to see which team emerges victorious. 

The ROC Nations Cup now features a group stage in which nations race against every other nation in their group, with the four most successful teams progressing to the knockout semi-finals. 

Germany’s Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel won a record sixth straight ROC Nations Cup title at Bangkok in 2012, adding to their previous triumphs in London, Beijing and Düsseldorf.

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Nation Cup
eROC

eROC 

From Sim to Live racing, the eRace Of Champions (eROC) competition is one of the most innovative amateur recruiting tools ever created in motorsports. It provides the unique opportunity for gamers, aspiring racers and any amateur to earn their competition licenses and their position on the starting line alongside the superstars of motorsports and eSports in less than a year after entering the competition.

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HISTORY

The Race Of Champions was created in 1988, the brainchild of IMP (International Media Productions) President Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the most successful female rally driver of all time. 

The first edition of the event, held in Paris, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the inaugural World Rally Drivers Championship, gathering all the sport’s champions together in identical cars. It was also held in memory of the late Henri Toivonen, who died at the Corsica Rally while leading the world championship in 1986. The Henri Toivonen Memorial trophy is still awarded to the winner of the Race Of Champions each year.

Originally conceived as the ultimate shootout between the best international rally stars, experts from other motor sport disciplines increasingly craved their share of the action. Over the last decade in particular, the racers have given the rally boys more than just a run for their money. They include Formula 1 world champions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button, MotoGP legends Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan, eight-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen and serial NASCAR champions Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson. 

The Race Of Champions switched to its current parallel track format in 1989 at the Nürburgring, the first ever car race to do so. After establishing a temporary base in Gran Canaria from 1992 to 2003, the event has since taken in a variety of the world’s most evocative venues including the Stade de France in Paris, London’s Wembley Stadium, Beijing’s ‘Bird’s Nest’ Olympic Stadium, Marlins Park in Miami and Foro Sol in Meixco City. In 2022 it successfully hosted its first Snow + Ice event in Sweden 60 miles from the Arctic Circle.

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PARIS - Stade de France

2004-2006

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LONDON - Wembley Stadium

2007-2008

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BEIJING - Olympic Stadium

2009

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MIAMI - Marlins Park

2017

History
Past Winners

PAST ROC WINNERS

2023 Sweden

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Mattias Ekström

Mick Schumacher

Johan Kristoffersson, Sebastian Vettel

ROC Nations Cup

Norway (P. Solberg/ O. Solberg)

All-Star (T. Neuville/ F. Drugovich)

Winners

Finalists

eRace Of Champions (eROC)

Winner

Lucas Blakelez

Winner Mattias Ekstrom (SWE) and runner up Mick Schumacher (GER) in the press conference d
2020 Virtual ROC

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Timmy Hansen

Ruben Garcia Jr

Rene Rast, Antonio Felix Da Costa

ROC Nations Cup

All Stars (R. Grosjean/ J. Baldwin)

Sweden (T. Hansen/ J. Kristoffersson)

Winners

Finalists

eRace Of Champions (eROC)

Winner

James Baldwin

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2018 Riyadh

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

David Coulthard

Petter Solberg

Tom Kristensen, Johan Kristoffersson

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (R. Rast/T. Bernhard)

Latin America (JP Montoya/H. Castroneves)

Winners

Finalists

eRace Of Champions (eROC)

Winner

Finalist

Enzo Bonito

Brendon Leigh

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2015 London

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sebastian Vettel

Tom Kristensen

David Coulthard, Alex Buncombe

ROC Nations Cup

England (Andy Priaulx/Jason Plato)

Germany (S. Vettel/N. Hulkenberg)

Winners

Finalists

ROC Factor Skills Challenge

Celebrity winner

Driver winner

Chris Hoy

Petter Solberg

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2022 Sweden

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sébastien Loeb

Sebastian Vettel

Tom Kristensen, Mattias Ekström

ROC Nations Cup

Norway (P. Solberg/ O. Solberg)

USA (J.Johnson/ C. Herta)

Winners

Finalists

eRace Of Champions (eROC)

Winner

Jarno Opmeer

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2019 Mexico

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Benito Guerra

Loic Duval

Patricio O'Ward, Esteban Gutierrez

ROC Nations Cup

Nordic (T. Kristensen/J. Kristoffersson)

Germany (S. Vettel/ Mick Schumacher)

Winners

Finalists

eRace Of Champions (eROC)

Winner

Finalist

James Baldwin

Brendon Leigh

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2017 Miami

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Juan Pablo Montoya

Tom Kristensen

Felipe Massa, David Coulthard

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (S. Vettel/P. Wehrlein)

USA (Kyle Busch/ Kurt Busch)

Winners

Finalists

Other competitions

USA vs World

Skills Challenge

The "World"

Petter Solberg

News_Team Germany Sebastian Vettel (GER) celebrates his win with runners up Team USA NASCA
2014 Barbados

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

David Coulthard

Pascal Wehrlein

Jamie Whincup, Esteban Ocon

ROC Nations Cup

Nordic (T. Kristensen/P. Solberg)

GB (David Coulthard/Susie Wolff)

Winners

Finalists

ROC Factor Skills Challenge

Winner

Esteban Ocon

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2012 Bangkok

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Romain Grosjean

Tom Kristensen

David Coulthard, Michael Schumacher

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

France (S. Ogier/R. Grosjean)

Finalists

Winners

Other competitions

ROC Thailand

ROC Asia

Nattavude Charoensukawattana

India (Narain Karthikeyan/ Karun Chandhok)

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2010 Düsseldorf

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Filipe Albuquerque

Sébastien Loeb

Andy Priaulx, Sebastian Vettel

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

GB (Andy Priaulx/Jason Plato)

Finalists

Winners

2010 ROC South Europe (in Portugal)

Winner

Finalist

Filipe Albuquerque

Alvaro Parente

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2011 Düsseldorf

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sébastien Ogier

Tom Kristensen

Martin Tomczyk, Michael Schumacher

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

Nordic (T. Kristensen/J. Hänninen)

Finalists

Winners

ROC Legends

Winner

Finalist

Heinz-Harald Frentzen

Marc Duez

ROC_Du%C3%8C%C2%88sseldorf_2011_Race_Of_Champions_Podium_OGIER_-_KRISTENSEN_03911802_1369_
2009 Beijing

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Mattias Ekström

Michael Schumacher

Jenson Button, Sebastian Vettel

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

UK (Jenson Button/Andy Priaulx)

Finalists

Winners

ROC China

Winner

Finalist

Dong He Bin

Hopin Tung

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2008 Wembley - London

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sébastien Loeb

David Coulthard

Andy Priaulx, Carl Edwards

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

Scandinavia (M. Ekström/T. Kristensen)

Finalists

Winners

ROC Wembley Stadium 2008_Race Of Champions_Podium_Sebastien Loeb lifts the winner's trophy
2006 Paris

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Mattias Ekström

Sébastien Loeb

Colin McRae, Sébastien Bourdais

ROC Nations Cup

Finland (M. Grönholm/H. Kovalainen)

USA (Travis Pastrana)

Finalists

Winners

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2004 Paris

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Heikki Kovalainen

Sébastien Loeb

Michael Schumacher, Marcus Grönholm

ROC Nations Cup

France (Jean Alesi/Sébastien Loeb)

Finland (M. Grönholm/H. Kovalainen)

Finalists

Winners

ROC Paris Stade de France 2004_Nations C
2002 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Marcus Grönholm

Sébastien Loeb

François Duval, Harri Rovanperä

ROC Nations Cup

USA (J Gordon/J Johnson/C Edwards)

Italy (R Travaglia/F Giovanardi/M Melandri)

Finalists

Winners

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2000 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Tommi Mäkinen

Marcus Grönholm

Gilles Panizzi, Didier Auriol 

ROC Nations Cup

France (G Panizzi/Y Muller/ R Laconi)

Italy (M Biasion/E Pirro/V Rossi)

Finalists

Winners

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2007 Wembley - London

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Mattias Ekström

Michael Schumacher

Andy Priaulx, Sébastien Bourdais

ROC Nations Cup

Germany (M. Schumacher/ S. Vettel)

Finland (M. Grönholm/H. Kovalainen)

Finalists

Winners

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2005 Paris

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sébastien Loeb

Tom Kristensen

Marcus Grönholm, Heikki Kovalainen

ROC Nations Cup

Scandinavia (M. Ekström/T. Kristensen)

Playstation France (S. Bourdais/S. Peterhansel)

Finalists

Winners

ROC_Paris_Stade_de_France_2005_Race_Of_C
2003 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Sébastien Loeb

Marcus Grönholm

Gilles Panizzi, François Duval

ROC Nations Cup

All Stars (C Da Matta/G Panizzi/F Nieto)

Spain (O Servia/F Alonso/E Alzamora)

Finalists

Winners

ROC Canary Islands 2003_Race Of Champion
2001 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Harri Rovanperä

Armin Schwarz

François Duval, Alister McRae

ROC Nations Cup

Spain (J Puras/F Alonso/R Xaus)

All Stars (H Rovanperä/T Kristensen/T Bayliss)

Finalists

Winners

ROC Canary Islands 2001_ROC Nations Cup_
1999 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Didier Auriol

Tommi Mäkinen

Carlos Sainz, Armin Schwarz

ROC Nations Cup

Finland (T Mäkinen/JJ Lehto/K Tiainen)

Spain (C Sainz/M Gené/P Riba)

Finalists

Winners

ROC_Canary_Islands_1999_Podium_Auriol_an
1998 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Colin McRae

Alister McRae

Didier Auriol, Carlos Sainz

International Rally Master winner Alister McRae

Classic Masters competition winner Miki Biasion

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1996 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Didier Auriol

François Delecour

Carlos Sainz, Stig Blomqvist

International Rally Master winner Flavio Alonso

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1994 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Didier Auriol

Stig Blomqvist

Juha Kankkunen, Armin Schwarz

International Rally Master winner Timo Salonen

Classic Masters competition winner Jean-Louis Schlesser

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1992 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Andrea Aghini

Colin McRae

Juha Kankkunen, Carlos Sainz

International Rally Master winner Flavio Alonso

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1990 Barcelona

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Stig Blomqvist

Tommi Mäkinen

Carlos Sainz, Dario Cerrato

International Rally Master winner Kenneth Eriksson

ROC Barcelona 1990_Drivers Family Photo.
1988 Montléry

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Juha Kankkunen

Timo Salonen

Walter Röhrl, Stig Blomqvist

The first ever Race Of Champions took place at the Montlhéry circuit near Paris.

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1997 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Carlos Sainz

Colin McRae

Didier Auriol, Jarmo Kytolehto

International Rally Master winner Walter Röhrl

Classic Masters competition winner Jarmo Kytolehto

ROC Canary Islands 1997_Podium_Sainz and
1995 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

François Delecour

Colin McRae

Didier Auriol, Andrea Aghini

International Rally Master winner Colin McRae

Classic Masters competition winner Marc Duez

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1993 Gran Canaria

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Didier Auriol

Carlos Sainz

François Delecour, Ari Vatanen

International Rally Master winner Stig Blomqvist

ROC Canary Islands 1993_Podium_Auriol an
1991 Madrid

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Juha Kankkunen

Didier Auriol

Stig Blomqvist, Ari Vatanen

International Rally Master winner Josep Maria Bardolet

ROC Madrid 1991_Podium_Kankkunen winner
1989 Nürburgring

Race Of Champions

Winner

Finalist

Semi-Finalists

Stig Blomqvist

Walter Röhrl

Marc Duez, Sepp Haider

This event featured the world’s first ever parallel rally track with drivers competing head-to-head in identical cars.

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