Michael Schumacher confirmed for RoC

*Michael Schumacher confirmed for the 2007 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium
*Wembley Stadium to be transformed into a custom-built tarmac race track
*Racing stars from the most important categories to compete against one-another

The Race of Champions (ROC) will be taking over Wembley Stadium this December and organisers can today confirm the participation of seven-times Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher in the unique motorsport extravaganza. The racing legend will join a star studded line-up for the knock-out competition, in which Wembley will be transformed into a custom-built tarmac race track.

Schumacher took part in the 2004 event at Paris' Stade de France, where he beat World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb in a one-off challenge in front of over 62,000 fans, but missed out on the overall title to Renault's F1-driver Heikki Kovalainen.

"I enjoyed the atmosphere, both with the other drivers and in the stadium where the fans seemed to clearly enjoy themselves," said Schumacher, who is also keen to highlight the charitable work done through Race of Champions. "I hope that my participation can help the event organisers raise even more funds and awareness for ICM (the Institute for Cerebral and Medullary Disorders), which I'm one of the founder members of andthat The Race of Champions is now supporting for the fourth year."

It is the first time the ROC has come to the UK in its 20-year history, which has seen stars including Fernando Alonso, Valentino Rossi, Felipe Massa and many others compete. Already announced for 2007 are F1 sparing partners, Red Bull Racing's David Coulthard and Honda F1's Jenson Button, as well as double FIA World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx and 1995 World Rally Champion, Colin McRae.

Entries from Germany, France, USA, Finland and maybe even a Team UK are set to be announced shortly. They will join Schumacher, as well as a host of other racing superstars yet to be announced, in the event's incredible double bill, which is guaranteed to thrill the expected 80,000 fans who will be able to see every instant of action from any position in the iconic Wembley Stadium.

"We started The Race of Champions to showcase the extraordinary skills of these drivers," said founder Fredrik Johnsson who conceived the idea with the world's best female rally driver, Michèle Mouton. "Its subsequent success has been overwhelming. I couldn't have imagined that one day we would be filling the largest stadiums in the world, but this event really does warrant it; you'll never see anything else like it!"

-credit: roc