Hunter-Reay, Newgarden join ROC Mexico line-up
Former IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden have joined the line-up for this month's Race of Champions in Mexico.
The duo will represent Team USA in the Nations Cup in the January 19-20 event.
Hunter-Reay, the 2012 IndyCar champion and 2014 Indy 500 winner, made his debut in the Race of Champions in Bangkok in 2012 and has been a regular in the event since.
"I'm delighted to be making my sixth straight appearance at the Race Of Champions," Hunter-Reay said.
"I'm proud to represent America, IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500 and I look forward to hearing the noise of the crowds in Mexico City, where the passion for motorsport is huge."
Newgarden, the winner of the IndyCar title in 2017, had already partnered Hunter-Reay in the Race of Champions last year, when the Penske driver competed in the event for the first time.
The pair were knocked out in the group stages of the Nations Cup.
"I've always been a big fan of the Race Of Champions. It's incredible to get to join the event and go head-to-head with so many talented drivers from all forms of motorsport," said Newgarden, who was knocked out in the quarterfinals in last year's ROC in the individual event.
"Experience is a big advantage at the Race Of Champions so I'm pumped to be competing for the second year in a row. But there's also a strong class of rookies this year and they often end up doing well because they don't come in with high expectations.
"The key is to be able to adapt quickly. There are so many different driving styles required across the cars in the competition. Whoever's the best at acclimating to each car the quickest will have the best chance at a win…"
RoC 2019 - confirmed drivers:
| Driver | Achievements |
|---|---|
|
| 13-time F1 race winner |
|
| Four-time F1 champion |
|
| European Formula 3 champion |
|
| NASCAR Xfinity champion |
|
| Three-time Daytona 24 Hours winner |
|
| Indy Lights champion |
|
| FIA PWRC champion |
|
| 9-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner |
|
| Two-time World Rallycross champion |
|
| Three-time Indy 500 winner |
|
| Formula E champion |
|
| IndyCar champion, Indy 500 winner |
|
| IndyCar champion |
David Coulthard
Sebastian Vettel
Daniel Suarez
Tom Kristensen
Johan Kristoffersson
Helio Castroneves
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Previous article
Motorsport Heroes – Five stories, one enduring spirit
Next article
IMS Hall of Fame reveals four nominees for 2019
About this article
| Series | General |
| Drivers | Josef Newgarden , Ryan Hunter-Reay |
| Author | Pablo Elizalde |
French Motorsport: the Stuff of Legend
Racing Files Season 2 Trailer
How to Launch a D2C Platform
ROC: Snow & Ice
The real-life racing rogues stranger than fiction
The forthcoming Netflix film linking the world of underworld crime and motorsport plays on a theme that isn't exactly new. Over the years, several shady figures have attempted to make it in racing before their dubious dealings caught up with them.
The cherished curios kept by motorsport's professionals at home
Keeping trophies and momentos of key triumphs is par for the course for motorsport professionals, but what are the most cherished souvenirs picked up by the drivers and engineers who have seen and done it all?
Why motorsport should consider a mid-week future
International motorsport has been the preserve of weekends, but the pandemic forced Formula E to get creative with its Berlin season finale as four races were held mid-week. Should FE and other series break with tradition and repeat the experiment?
How pragmatic principles made Ron Tauranac a design legend
Jack Brabham's 1966 world championship campaign in his eponymous car was also a defining moment in the career of designer Ron Tauranac, who would apply the same ethos to his ultra-successful production racing car business, Ralt.
The ingrained failure motorsport must fix to avoid 'turf wars'
OPINION: The FIA has warned that the major motorsport championships must not get engaged in 'turf wars' when it comes to the urgent need to re-organising the 2020 calendars, but there are tedious past problems that must be addressed to satisfy all.
The tech changes that could seal a Nordschleife record
Volkswagen's I.D. R smashed the Pikes Peak record and now its attention has been turned to Nurburgring Nordschleife. The ultimate benchmark there may appear far out of reach, but technical changes to the car have made a new electric record possible
The story of motorsport's single biggest safety advance
Today, the HANS device is commonplace in motorsport, but it wasn't initially greeted with open arms. This is the story of a major safety breakthrough and the man whose invention has saved countless lives.
Motorsport's greatest imposters
There are many tightly enforced rules in motorsport – some complex, some simple, but there have been a few extraordinary instances of teams and drivers bending the rules and getting away with it
