Thai drivers to go up against Vettel, Schumi in Bangkok
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Germany, represented by former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher and current title holder Sebastian Vettel, will defend their title in the Race of Champions, from December 14 to 16 at the Rajamangala National Stadium.
Schumacher and Vettel will be pitted against marquee drivers from Great Britain, Australia, France, Asia, USA and hosts Thailand.
Race organiser Fredrik Johnson said Ryan Hunter Reay, winner of the Indycar Series Championship, is the latest driver to confirm his participation in the 25th edition.
“Ryan is the first major motor sport champion of this year who has confirmed to compete in the race. We invite only champions from Formula 1, Indycar, Touring Car and Le Mans to participate in this event,” Johnson said.
Initiated in 1988, the Race of Champions features eight teams of two drivers from different nations driving identical cars to determine the world’s fastest team and drivers. Three categories, ROC of Asia, ROC Nations Cup and the individual Race of Champions, comprise the threeday event.
But an extra Race of Champions Thailand has been added to the programme on December 14 to find two representatives to represent the country in the ROC of Asia and ROC Nations Cup on December 15 and 16.
“As host, Thailand will automatically qualify for the ROC Nations Cup. This will be the second time that the tournament is held outside Europe, after Beijing in 2009,” Johnson said.
The Rajamangala stadium will be transformed into a race track on December 1, with space for around 40,000 spectators. Johnson said the specially designed parallel tracks featuring a bridge would be wider allowing racers to drive more spectacularly without crashing into each other.
To give fans a closer view of the action, some will be chosen by lucky draw to sit in the same cars as the champion drivers race. The specs of the race cars will be announced later, but Johnson insisted all would be identical so that no one had an advantage.
The Race of Champions is also due in Thailand next year with the support of Red Bull, Singha and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
