Vettel and Lorenzo go head-to-head at ROC

The stage is set for a thrilling Race Of Champions following the draw for the opening group stages of the event on December 14-16 at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

The Race Of Champions, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

For the individual Race Of Champions on December 16 the drivers are split into groups of four for a round-robin first stage. The top two in each group earn the right to participate in the knockout stages.

Now, following today’s draw at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium led by Kanokphand Chulakasem, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, this year’s star drivers have discovered who awaits them.

There will be a mouth-watering battle between the world’s best racers on four wheels and two as 2012 Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel goes up against 2012 MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo and 500cc MotoGP legend Mick Doohan.

Other highlights include seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher duelling against 2012 IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Race Of Champions (Sunday December 16)

Group A
Sébastien OGIER, WRC star and reigning ROC ‘Champion of Champions’
Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
David COULTHARD, 13 Formula 1 grand prix victories
Benito GUERRA, Production World Rally Champion 2012

Group B
Tom KRISTENSEN, eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
Andy PRIAULX, three-time World Touring Car Champion
ROC Asia 1, top non-Thailand competitor from ROC Asia
ROC Thailand 1, winner of ROC Thailand

Group C
Sebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2012, 2011, 2010
Jorge LORENZO, MotoGP World Champion 2012, 2010
Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
ROC Thailand 2, runner-up from ROC Thailand

Group D
Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
ROC Asia 2, second-placed non-Thailand competitor from ROC Asia
Romain GROSJEAN, three Formula 1 podiums in 2012

Before Sunday’s Race Of Champions, drivers team up for the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday 15 December. Schumacher and Vettel have taken an incredible five straight titles together for Team Germany – but to reach this year’s semi-finals the favourites will first have to negotiate a group featuring Team Australia, Team Asia and hosts Team Thailand.

ROC Nations Cup (Saturday December 15)

Group A
Team France (Sébastien OGIER & Romain GROSJEAN)
Team Great Britain (David COULTHARD & Andy PRIAULX)
Team Americas (Ryan HUNTER-REAY & Benito GUERRA)
Team All Stars (Tom KRISTENSEN & Jorge LORENZO)

Group B
Team Germany (Michael SCHUMACHER & Sebastian VETTEL)
Team Thailand (The two finalists from ROC Thailand)
Team Australia (Mick DOOHAN & Jamie WHINCUP)
Team Asia (The leading ROC Asia team other than Thailand)

Ahead of the two main feature events, there will be two special races on Friday 14 December. First, the best drivers from the host nation will battle it out for the ROC Thailand crown.

The two finalists will then represent Team Thailand in the first ever ROC Asia against Team India (Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok), Team China (Han Han and Ho-Pin Tung) and Toyota Team Gazoo Japan (Kazuya Ohshima and Takuto Iguchi).

Both Team Thailand as host nation and the best-placed other ROC Asia team will progress to the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday.

Along with the stellar driver line-up, the Race Of Champions features a wide array of vehicles including the powerful Audi R8 LMS, VW Scirocco, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo and the Toyota GT86. They will run alongside ROC favourites including the ROC car, KTM X-Bow and Euro Racecar.

Race Of Champions

}