Race of Champions

Last updated
Race of Champions
Race-of-Champions-logo.jpg
Category Racing and Rally
CountryInternational
Inaugural season1988
Drivers20 (2022)
Teams10 (2022)
Drivers' champion Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Ekström
Teams' champion Flag of Norway.svg Norway
Official website raceofchampions.com
Motorsport current event.svg Current season
2007 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium Race of Champions 2007 panorama.jpg
2007 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium

The Race of Champions (ROC) is an international motorsport event held at the start or end of each year, featuring some of the world's best racing and rally drivers from Formula One, World Rally Championship, IndyCar, NASCAR, sports car racing, touring car racing, and motorcycle racing, who compete against each other in identical cars.

Contents

The race was first organised in 1988 by former rally driver Michèle Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson, IMP (International Media Productions) President. Originally the event was a competition between the world's best rally drivers, but has since expanded to include top competitors from most other motorsport disciplines.

The top individual overall in the Race Of Champions is given the title "Champion of Champions" and receives the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy. The ROC Nations' Cup was added in 1999 and now features teams of two drivers who compete for their country.

The event has taken place in several venues, including 12 years on Gran Canaria from 1992 to 2003. From 2004 to 2019, the event was held in major sporting stadiums, including the Stade de France in Paris, Wembley Stadium in London, the Beijing National Stadium, Düsseldorf's ESPRIT arena, the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Olympic Stadium, the Marlins Park in Miami, the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, and the Foro Sol in Mexico City. However in 2014, the event was held at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados, and the 2022 edition was held on a frozen Baltic Sea in northern Sweden.

Overview

Marcus Gronholm and Henning Solberg driving Ford Focus RS WRC 07 cars at the 2007 Nations' Cup. Gronholm and P. Solberg - 2007 Race of Champions.jpg
Marcus Grönholm and Henning Solberg driving Ford Focus RS WRC 07 cars at the 2007 Nations' Cup.

In the Race of Champions, the individual drivers compete head-to-head in one race around the track. The drivers are gradually eliminated using a round-robin format, with the best eight entering a knockout tournament. Prior to the Race of Champions, eight teams of two drivers compete in the ROC Nations' Cup using a similar format.

Sebastian Vettel driving the ROC buggy. Sebastian Vettel - 2007 Race of Champions.jpg
Sebastian Vettel driving the ROC buggy.

In both the ROC Nations' Cup and the Race of Champions, the final consists of three runs, with the team or driver that achieves two victories first crowned champion.

Cars

The cars used in the Race Of Champions vary from year to year. Prior to each run, a type of car is assigned to both of the drivers, with each machine being identical in every respect. Over the course of the event, each driver will get to drive several different cars.

In 2012, the cars selected for the Race Of Champions included a ROC Car buggy, the KTM X-Bow, the Audi R8 LMS, the Lamborghini Gallardo SuperTrofeo, the VW Scirocco R-Cup and the NASCAR European Stock Car.

In 2022, the cars selected included the FIA RX2e, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport and the off-road Polaris RZR PRO XP. SuperCar Lites were also used and powered by 100% fossil-free biofuel. [1]

History

Two-time winner Stig Blomqvist driving an Audi Quattro S1. Stig Blomqvist - 2007 Race of Champions 3.jpg
Two-time winner Stig Blomqvist driving an Audi Quattro S1.

Early events (1988–1991)

The first-ever Race of Champions was held in 1988 at the Autodrome de Linas-Montlhéry near Paris, in memory of Henri Toivonen, who died while leading the 1986 Tour de Corse, and to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the world championship for rally drivers. [2]

The inaugural cast included all the eight world rally champions from 1979 to 1988; Björn Waldegård, Walter Röhrl, Ari Vatanen, Hannu Mikkola, Stig Blomqvist, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen and Miki Biasion. The final was a battle between two "Flying Finns", in which Kankkunen beat Salonen to become the first "Champion of Champions". The cars used at the first event were Audi Quattro S1, BMW M3, Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, Lancia Delta Integrale, Opel Manta 400 and Peugeot 205 Turbo 16. [3]

The following years saw new events in addition to the main race. The International Rally Masters, started in 1990, was designed to offer the season's best drivers, who were yet to win a championship title, the chance to win a spot in the main Race of Champions. The Classic Rally Masters, first contested in 1994, was a "historic" Race of Champions competed with pre-1965 Porsche 911s. These two events have since been discontinued.

From 1989 until 1991, there were one-off appearances at the Nürburgring, Barcelona and Madrid.

Gran Canaria (1992–2003)

The event found a permanent home for the next 12 years at the Ciudad Deportiva Islas Canarias venue on Gran Canaria starting from 1992. It was during this period that the emphasis on rally champions faded. The Nations' Cup was introduced in 1999, bringing in circuit racing drivers and motorcyclists to the event for the first time, with 2001 marking the first time that non-rally drivers were eligible to compete for the main title.

2003 was the last time the event would be held on Gran Canaria, the event switching to stadium-based tracks from 2004. The change from gravel to tarmac circuits saw rally drivers lose their dominance, and by 2007 only a handful of rally drivers were present, with the majority made up of circuit racing drivers from F1, touring cars and sportscars.

Saint-Denis (2004–2006)

2004 surprise winner Heikki Kovalainen driving a Solution F Prototype at the 2007 event. Heikki Kovalainen - 2007 Race of Champions.jpg
2004 surprise winner Heikki Kovalainen driving a Solution F Prototype at the 2007 event.

The 2004 Race of Champions took place on December 6 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. The individual event was won by Heikki Kovalainen, the first non-rally driver to win the crown, and the Nations' Cup by Jean Alesi and Sébastien Loeb representing France. There was also a special "World Champions Challenge" race held between 2004 Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher and 2004 World Rally champion Sébastien Loeb, which Schumacher won.

Sebastien Loeb won his second title in 2005. Sebastien loeb spafrancorchamps2014.JPG
Sébastien Loeb won his second title in 2005.

The 2005 event took place on December 3. The individual event was won by Sébastien Loeb after Tom Kristensen crashed out of the final, and the Nations' Cup event was won by Tom Kristensen and Mattias Ekström representing Scandinavia.

2006 winner Mattias Ekstrom demonstrating his DTM car at the 2007 event. Mattias Ekstrom - 2007 Race of Champions 3.jpg
2006 winner Mattias Ekström demonstrating his DTM car at the 2007 event.

The 2006 event took place on December 16. The Nations' Cup was competed first and the event was won by Finland, with Heikki Kovalainen beating United States' Travis Pastrana on the final round. Kovalainen's teammate was the two-time World Rally Champion Marcus Grönholm, whereas Pastrana drove all the rounds for the US team, after both Jimmie Johnson and his replacement, Scott Speed, had to withdraw from competing due to injuries.

The individual event and the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy was won by Mattias Ekström of Sweden. He beat Kovalainen by 0.0002 seconds in the semi-finals, and then defending champion, Sébastien Loeb of France, in the finals.

London (2007–2008)

The 16 competitors line up before the start of the event. Race of Champions 2007 competitors.jpg
The 16 competitors line up before the start of the event.

The 2007 Race of Champions took place on December 16 at Wembley Stadium in London, England. The Nations' Cup took place at the start of the afternoon and was won by Germany over Finland. The individual event followed and the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy was won by Mattias Ekström of Sweden, beating Michael Schumacher of Germany in the final.

The 2008 event took place on December 14. Germany retained their Nations' Cup title by beating the Scandinavian team in the final, while Sébastien Loeb overcame the recently retired F1 stalwart David Coulthard to win the individuals' event.

Beijing (2009)

The 2009 Race of Champions took place in Beijing's National Stadium on November 3–4. For the first time, regional finals were held to help determine the competitors for the Nations' Cup, with Monaco earning the right to compete in the main event after beating teams from Italy, Spain and Portugal at an event held in Porto on June 6–7.

Germany beat Great Britain to win the Nations' Cup for the third successive time, with Mattias Ekström beating Michael Schumacher to claim the individual title in a re-run of the 2007 final.

Düsseldorf (2010–2011)

The 2010 Race of Champions took place in Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena on November 27–28. [4] Germany retained their Nations' Cup crown in front of their home crowd, once again beating Great Britain, while Portugal's Filipe Albuquerque was a surprise winner of the individual event after beating newly crowned F1 champion Sebastian Vettel in the semi-final and Sébastien Loeb in the final.

The 2011 event was due to take place in Frankfurt's Commerzbank-Arena on December 3–4, [5] but after Eintracht Frankfurt's relegation to German football's Second Division, the stadium could no longer host the event on those dates. [6] The Race of Champions was held in the Esprit Arena in Düsseldorf, just as in 2010. [7]

Germany secured their fifth successive Nations' Cup title, beating the Nordic team in the final, while up-and-coming rally star Sébastien Ogier beat Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen in the final to clinch the individual crown.

Bangkok (2012–2013)

The 2012 Race of Champions took place on December 14–16 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. [8] The individual Race Of Champions was won by Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean, who beat Tom Kristensen in the final. The Nations' Cup was won for the sixth consecutive time by Germany after overcoming France in the final.

The 2012 edition was the first to include a ROC Asia competition, with teams from host nation Thailand, India, China and Japan battling for two spots in the ROC Nations Cup and individual seats in the actual Race Of Champions.

The 2013 event was due to take place on the December 14–15 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, but was canceled due to political unrest in Bangkok. [9]

Barbados (2014)

The 2014 Race of Champions was held in Barbados at the Bushy Park circuit on December 13–14. [10] This was the first time that the event was held in North America. The individual Race Of Champions was won by 13 times F1 race winner David Coulthard, who beat Mercedes F1 test driver and youngest ever DTM race winner Pascal Wehrlein in the final. The Nations' Cup was won by Team Nordic's Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg overcoming Team Great Britain's David Coulthard and Susie Wolff in the final.

The 2014 included a ROC Caribbean competition, with teams from host nation Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago battling for two spots in the ROC Nations Cup and individual seats in the actual Race Of Champions.

London (2015)

In 2015 Race of Champions returned to London and was staged at London Stadium in Stratford. The ROC Nations Cup was held on Friday 20 November and the Race of Champions on Saturday 21 November.

Drivers included four times Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel, nine times 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and FIA World Rallycross Championship winner Petter Solberg. The ROC Nations Cup was won by Team England 1 consisting of Jason Plato and Andy Priaulx, while Sebastian Vettel was crowned Champion of Champions.

Miami (2017)

The 2017 Race of Champions was held at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida, on January 21–22. This was the Second time that the event was held in North America. Fifteen drivers from six nations competed at the 2017 ROC. Drivers included 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Kyle Busch, and former Indy 500 Champion Juan Pablo Montoya, who each participated in their first ROC. [11]

Juan Pablo Montoya was crowned the Champion of Champions after defeating Tom Kristensen, while Sebastian Vettel won the Nations Cup for Team Germany after teammate Pascal Wehrlein did not compete in the Nations Cup after suffering an accident during the Champion of Champions event the day prior. Team USA drivers Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch were the runners up for the Nations Cup.

Riyadh (2018)

The 2018 Race of Champions was held at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, becoming the first international motorsports event to be held in Saudi Arabia. [12]

This was the first edition to feature eROC, where sim racers competed against each other both virtually and on the ROC track for the chance to compete in the main Race of Champions event. [13]

Mexico City (2019)

The 2019 Race of Champions was held at the Foro Sol in Mexico City, becoming the third Race of Champions to be held in North America. [14]

Virtual (2020)

The 2020 Race of Champions was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic at recreations of the Gran Canaria track and the Riyadh and London stadium tracks that were all recreated in Assetto Corsa. [15]

Sweden (2022–2023)

The 2022 Race of Champions was held at Pite Havsbad in Piteå, northern Sweden. [16] It was the first time the event had been held on a snow and ice track. The 2023 Race of Champions was held at the same venue. [17]

Sydney (2025)

The 2025 Race of Champions is due to be held on 7–8 March at Stadium Australia in Sydney. This will be the first time the event has been hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. [18]

Winners

YearLocationRace of ChampionsNations' Cup winnersOther trophies
WinnerRunner-upNationDrivers
2025 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sydney
2024No race held due to uncertainties regarding the use of the land in Piteå [19]
2023 Flag of Sweden.svg Piteå Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Ekström Flag of Germany.svg Mick Schumacher Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Petter Solberg
Oliver Solberg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lucas Blakeley (eROC)
2022 Flag of Sweden.svg Piteå Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Vettel Flag of Norway.svg  Norway Petter Solberg
Oliver Solberg
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jarno Opmeer
(eROC)
Flag of Sweden.svg Pontus Fredricsson
(Porsche ROC Snow + Ice Challenge)
Flag of Norway.svg Aksel Lund Svindal
(ROC Celebrity Challenge)
2021No race held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020 Online (virtual) Flag of Sweden.svg Timmy Hansen Flag of Mexico.svg Rubén García Jr. Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of France.svg All-Stars James Baldwin
Romain Grosjean
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Baldwin
(eROC)
2019 Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico City Flag of Mexico.svg Benito Guerra Flag of France.svg Loïc Duval Flag of Sweden.svg Flag of Denmark.svg Nordic Johan Kristoffersson
Tom Kristensen
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Baldwin
(eROC)
Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Vettel
(ROC Skills Challenge)
Flag of Mexico.svg Rubén Garcia Jr
(ROC Mexico Race 1)
Flag of Mexico.svg Abraham Calderón
(ROC Mexico Race 2)
Flag of the United States.svg Robby Gordon
(Super Stadium Trucks Race 1)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Matthew Brabham
(Super Stadium Trucks Race 2)
2018 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Riyadh Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Coulthard Flag of Norway.svg Petter Solberg Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Timo Bernhard
René Rast
Flag of Sweden.svg Johan Kristoffersson
(ROC Skills Challenge)
Flag of Italy.svg Enzo Bonito
(eROC)
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Miami Flag of Colombia.svg Juan Pablo Montoya Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Kristensen Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Sebastian Vettel
Pascal Wehrlein
Flag of Norway.svg Petter Solberg
(ROC Skills Challenge)
2016No race held (event was changed from late to early year)
2015 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Vettel Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Kristensen Flag of England.svg England 1 Jason Plato
Andy Priaulx
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Hoy
(ROC Celebrity Skills Challenge)
2014 Flag of Barbados.svg Bushy Park Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Coulthard Flag of Germany.svg Pascal Wehrlein Flag of Denmark.svg Flag of Norway.svg Nordic Tom Kristensen
Petter Solberg
Flag of Barbados.svg Barbados
(ROC Caribbean)
Flag of France.svg Esteban Ocon
(ROC Skills Challenge)
2013 Flag of Thailand.svg Bangkok Cancelled due to political unrest during the 2013-2014 Thai political crisis
2012 Flag of Thailand.svg Bangkok Flag of France.svg Romain Grosjean Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Kristensen Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
Flag of India.svg  India
(ROC Asia)
Flag of Thailand.svg Nattavude Charoensukawattana
(ROC Thailand)
2011 Flag of Germany.svg Düsseldorf Flag of France.svg Sébastien Ogier Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Kristensen Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
Flag of Germany.svg Heinz-Harald Frentzen
(ROC Legends)
2010 Flag of Germany.svg Düsseldorf Flag of Portugal.svg Filipe Albuquerque Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
Not held
2009 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Beijing Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Ekström Flag of Germany.svg Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Dong He Bin
(ROC China)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andy Priaulx
(ROC Legends)
2008 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Coulthard Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
Not held
2007 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Ekström Flag of Germany.svg Michael Schumacher Flag of Germany.svg  Germany Michael Schumacher
Sebastian Vettel
2006 Flag of France.svg Saint-Denis Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Ekström Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Heikki Kovalainen
Marcus Grönholm
2005 Flag of France.svg Saint-Denis Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of Denmark.svg Tom Kristensen Flag of Denmark.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Scandinavia Tom Kristensen
Mattias Ekström
2004 Flag of France.svg Saint-Denis Flag of Finland.svg Heikki Kovalainen Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of France.svg  France Jean Alesi
Sébastien Loeb
2003 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Brazil.svg Flag of France.svg All-Stars Fonsi Nieto
Cristiano da Matta
Gilles Panizzi
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg François Duval
(Junior Rally Masters)
2002 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm Flag of France.svg Sébastien Loeb Flag of the United States.svg  United States Jimmie Johnson
Jeff Gordon
Colin Edwards
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg François Duval
(Junior Rally Masters)
2001 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of Finland.svg Harri Rovanperä Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz Flag of Spain.svg  Spain Jesús Puras
Rubén Xaus
Fernando Alonso
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg François Duval
(Junior Rally Masters)
Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist
(ROC Legends)
2000 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen Flag of Finland.svg Marcus Grönholm Flag of France.svg  France Regis Laconi
Yvan Muller
Gilles Panizzi
Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz
(Rally Masters)

Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist
(ROC Legends)

1999 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen Flag of Finland.svg  Finland Tommi Mäkinen
JJ Lehto
Kari Tiainen
Flag of Germany.svg Armin Schwarz
(Rally Masters)

Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist
(ROC Legends)

1998 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alister McRae Not held Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alister McRae
(Rally Masters)
Flag of Italy.svg Miki Biasion
(Classic Masters)
1997 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae Flag of Finland.svg Jarmo Kytölehto
(Rally Masters)

Flag of Germany.svg Walter Röhrl
(Classic Masters)

1996 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Flag of France.svg François Delecour Flag of Spain.svg Flavio Alonso
(Rally Masters)
1995 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg François Delecour Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Aghini
(Rally Masters)

Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Marc Duez
(Classic Masters)

1994 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Finland.svg Timo Salonen
(Rally Masters)

Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser
(Classic Masters)

1993 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Sainz Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist
(Rally Masters)
1992 Flag of Spain.svg Gran Canaria Flag of Italy.svg Andrea Aghini Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin McRae Flag of Spain.svg Flavio Alonso
(Rally Masters)
1991 Flag of Spain.svg Madrid Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen Flag of France.svg Didier Auriol Flag of Spain.svg Josep Maria Bardolet
(Rally Masters)
1990 Flag of Spain.svg Barcelona Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Finland.svg Tommi Mäkinen Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth Eriksson
(Rally Masters)
1989 Flag of Germany.svg Nürburgring Flag of Sweden.svg Stig Blomqvist Flag of Germany.svg Walter Röhrl Not held
1988 Flag of France.svg Montlhéry Flag of Finland.svg Juha Kankkunen Flag of Finland.svg Timo Salonen

Total wins

See also

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