Race Of Champions 2015 gets ready to ROC!

[Paul Jeffrey]

London's Olympic Stadium is set to host the annual season ending Race of Champions event on November 20th and 21st with a host of big name racing champions from the world of two and four wheels due to take part in the battle to see who really is the fastest racing driver in the world.

Returning to London for the first time since 2008, ROC runs on a purpose-built stadium circuit in a series of heats to decide who will be crowned individual champion. Running alongside the individual championship ROC also features a Nations Cup event where drivers of the same Nationality team together to race for the honour of their country to be crowned Nations Cup Champions.

Having become a firm favourite of the drivers in recent years, this years event looks sure to offer up fans of motorsport entertainment another great spectacle of showmanship and sporting excellence. 2015's event will mark the debut of the Mercedes AMG GT S, the first Mercedes-AMG ever to be raced at a ROC event, joining a range of exciting machinery in the 2015 paddock including the use of firm fan favourites the ROC Buggy, KTM Xbow, Arial Atom and Euro Nascar. Also making its ROC debut will be the 210bhp 595kg Rage Buggy, one that is destined to go down in the memories of fans across the globe.

Other notable features of the 2015 event will be the final appearance in racing overalls of Scottish lady racer Susie Wolff, marking her last official appearance before retirement from motorsport at the age of 32.

Once again the newly crowned Formula One World Champions AMG Mercedes F1 team will be on hand to demonstrate their Grand Prix winning Formula One car around the tight and twisty track, so watch out for some tyre smoke and donuts from the Silver Arrows.

Each year at this time I always take a moment to reflect on previous ROC master Michael Schumacher and his continual fight to regain fitness after his shock skiing accident back in 2013. Schumacher won the Race of Champions Nations Cup a record 6 times proving time and again that despite advancing years the king of F1 still has the talent to beat his younger rivals. Our thoughts and best wishes remain with the German legend and all at RaceDepartment wish Michael a fast and a full as possible recovery from his injuries #keepfightingmichael

Already confirmed for the 2015 Race of Champions are some serious names from the world of Formula 1, Le Mans, touring cars, rallying, rallycross and MotoGP.

Current 2015 Race of Champions line-up:
Sebastian Vettel - Four-time F1 champion
Jenson Button - 2009 F1 champion
Tom Kristensen - Nine-time Le Mans winner and former WEC champion
Jorge Lorenzo - Three-time mad MotoGP world champion
Mick Doohan - Five-time 500cc Motorcycle World Champion
Daniel Ricciardo - Red Bull F1 driver
Petter Solberg - WRC champion and reigning WorldRX champion
David Coulthard - Former F1 driver and defending Race of Champions' champion
Felipe Massa - Williams F1
Romain Grosjean - Lotus F1
Nico Hulkenberg - 2015 Le Mans winner
Jason Plato - Double BTCC champion & all time winningest driver
Nelson Piquet Jr - Reigning Formula E champion
Susie Wolff - Williams F1 reserve driver
Ryan Hunter-Reay - 2014 Indy 500 winner, 2012 IndyCar Champion
Alex Buncombe - Reigning Blancpain Endurance Series Champion
Jolyon Palmer - GP2 Series champion / Lotus 2016 F1 driver
Pascal Wehrlein - Reigning DTM champion

 

[Smartbean]

I'm eagerly awaiting to see how the atmosphere is around this events, as my girlfriend and I will be there on Saturday the 21st

 

[Chris]

I think it's fantastic that it's being held in London. It's about time these great sporting events were held in places where they actually have some sort of following (excellent example being the Rugby World Cup). Enough of hosting them in the Emirates etc. where it's purely a cash grab with empty grandstands!

 

[Trimaz]

This is going to be outstanding.

 

[Peter Klawitter]

I think it's fantastic that it's being held in London. It's about time these great sporting events were held in places where they actually have some sort of following (excellent example being the Rugby World Cup). Enough of hosting them in the Emirates etc. where it's purely a cash grab with empty grandstands!

when was ROC in the Emirates??? (apart from the british soccer league being owned by UAE or Emirati individuals and Russians....would kind of suggest to start there!) i wouldn't blame the ones with the $$$$, i always blame the ones running for the $$$$ and greed in their eyes!

 

[Slalom823]

Will there be any coverage online to watch?

 

[Chris]

when was ROC in the Emirates??? (apart from the british soccer league being owned by UAE or Emirati individuals and Russians....would kind of suggest to start there!) i wouldn't blame the ones with the $$$$, i always blame the ones running for the $$$$ and greed in their eyes!

I wasn't talking about ROC, I was referring to sporting events in general

 

[TobiasR]

This is the best lineup in years. It'll be an absolute blast.

 

[Andrew Harper]

I managed to go to one of the Wembley events the last time it came to the UK and it was great fun and great atmosphere, although the crowds weren't large (I think that was the reason it moved to another venue, the next year it was only a third full). Really wanted to go this year but work and the cost of travel made it impossible (although I'm not saying "suddenly fallen ill and can't come to work" did come to mind )

For those travelling to this event for the first time, one piece of advice, please wrap up warm. I had no idea it was going to get so cold once the sun went down, couldn't feel my legs after sitting down for that amount of time! People around me had blankets, gloves and hats which obviously made sure they didn't get cold. Unless you're one of the lucky ones with a VIP pass

Previously it was on MotorsTV or Eurosport but I think for the last few years it's been on SkySportsF1, or if you google the channel you might be able to find an internet stream, ahem....

I think this is for a few years again, so maybe next year for me

So show your support and make the journey if you can, otherwise it'll end up in the Far East again!

 

[Peter Klawitter]

I wasn't talking about ROC, I was referring to sporting events in general

yapp got it! but remember, event managers run to $$$$ where the money is at and pitch it to them, not the other way around.

 

[Ole Marius Myrvold]

I think it's fantastic that it's being held in London. It's about time these great sporting events were held in places where they actually have some sort of following (excellent example being the Rugby World Cup). Enough of hosting them in the Emirates etc. where it's purely a cash grab with empty grandstands!

I cannot disagree more. It's a bloody shame that it is being moved back to the stadium mickey mouse stuff. The track the initially had at GC for 12 years was awesome! Some actual driving! Also most of the years before GC was held on actual race tracks.

They almost got it last year, they had to make a stupid chicane, other than that, it was more the proper RoC again.

 

[Andrew Harper]

I cannot disagree more. It's a bloody shame that it is being moved back to the stadium mickey mouse stuff. The track the initially had at GC for 12 years was awesome! Some actual driving! Also most of the years before GC was held on actual race tracks.

They almost got it last year, they had to make a stupid chicane, other than that, it was more the proper RoC again.

I understand what you mean my friend but remember not everyone can make the trip to Gran Canaria and the UK has the sort of motorsport fan who enjoys all motorsport not just F1. Although I could never understand the races being held in China and Bangkok, they put on a good show but the public there simply had no idea what was going on

The original events were for rally drivers. Those were the ones I saw on Eurosport at Christmas and yes I did enjoy them greatly but times move on and it's still great an event like this exists (and don't forget it does move around, last year it was in Barbados!) Some of the best drivers in the world, in the same racing cars, just a shame it's in the cold of the UK!

My only concern is that most of the audience at Wembley were not all motorsport fans, they were there for the event, a night out. So my only criticism is try and make the event a little more open for the fans and people who've made the trip. Autograph sessions, meet the drivers, and make things more accessible. It's not a cheap event anymore so make it a little more fan friendly

Thinking about it I hope the area inside the Olympic Stadium might be larger, the only problem Wembley had was that the course was too tight in places.

 

[Kaiserkoenig]

Without Schumi

 

[Roadduck313]

Without Schumi

Hopefully he will get better soon.

(I dont now, why i never heard about ROC before, its great )

 

[Trimaz]

Hopefully he will get better soon.

(I dont now, why i never heard about ROC before, its great )

It's been going for 16 years and I've been a racing fan since I was a kid (now 32) and this is my first time I've heard of it too. I feel I've missed out on so much in my life.

 

[Frederic Schornstein]

It's been going for 16 years and I've been a racing fan since I was a kid (now 32) and this is my first time I've heard of it too. I feel I've missed out on so much in my life.

Last year was not the best, but the Stadium Supertrucks were amazing. 3 wheeling and some guys rolling them. Grosjean drove them like a total boss. Maybe there are some videos of it on youtube.