The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. Dec
15th
Stay connected Subscribe to our RSS feed
Team Germany's Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel are in Bangkok looking for their sixth consecutive win in tonight's Nations Cup, as part of the Race Of Champions weekend.
The Race of Champions is a season-ending contest gathering motorsport stars from all around the globe. Their are all pitched up against one another first in a team contest called the Nations Cup, and the day after in a individual competition.
In each round, drivers race against the clock, and each other, in identical machinery, on two parallel indoor courses.
This year's fleet of cars includes an Audi R8 LMS, a VW Scirocco, a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo, a Toyota GT86, an Euro racecar, a KTM X-Box and the ROC car.
Schumacher and Vettel, forming Team Germany's duo, are highly rated by many of their competitors.
"Team Germany are a very strong team. They have 10 world championships between them so it will always be difficult," admitted former Williams, McLaren and Red Bull driver David Coulthard, who competes this weekend alongside Andy Priaulx for Team Great Britain.
"But at this event one corner can make or break everything if you make a small mistake," added the Scot.
Both members of said Team Germany are enthusiast at the prospect of another race weekend at the Race Of Champions.
"We are always excited to come to the Race Of Champions as it's always a highlight for us at the end of the year," said Schumacher, the fabled seven-time world champion himself. "We're happy to be over here in Bangkok this time and we're very much looking forward to showing what we can do down on the track later on."
On the other hand, Vettel, who just picked up his third consecutive F1 world championship in Brazil a few weeks ago, emphasized the fun character of the event.
"What's special about the Race Of Champions is that it's a good challenge with the different cars and it's a great opportunity to meet drivers from different categories," he pointed out. "It's very relaxed - you can compete against each other and then grab a drink after the race and have some fun."
ROC Nations Cup Draw (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 (Nattavude CHAROENSUKAWATTANA & Tin SRITRAI)
Team Australia (Mick DOOHAN & Jamie WHINCUP)
Team India (Narain KARTHIKEYAN & Karun CHANDHOK)
Race Of Champions Draw (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
Ho-Pin TUNG, fastest qualifier from ROC Asia
Nattavude CHAROENSUKAWATTANA, 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
Tin SRITRAI, runner-up from ROC Thailand
Group D
Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
Kazuya OHSHIMA, second fastest qualifier from ROC Asia
Romain GROSJEAN, three Formula 1 podiums in 2012
The Race of Champions is a season-ending contest gathering motorsport stars from all around the globe. Their are all pitched up against one another first in a team contest called the Nations Cup, and the day after in a individual competition.
In each round, drivers race against the clock, and each other, in identical machinery, on two parallel indoor courses.
This year's fleet of cars includes an Audi R8 LMS, a VW Scirocco, a Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo, a Toyota GT86, an Euro racecar, a KTM X-Box and the ROC car.
Schumacher and Vettel, forming Team Germany's duo, are highly rated by many of their competitors.
 |
| Sebastian Vettel (left), and Michael Schumacher at the 2010 Düsseldorf Race of Champions (Photo: RaceOfChampions.com) |
"Team Germany are a very strong team. They have 10 world championships between them so it will always be difficult," admitted former Williams, McLaren and Red Bull driver David Coulthard, who competes this weekend alongside Andy Priaulx for Team Great Britain.
"But at this event one corner can make or break everything if you make a small mistake," added the Scot.
Both members of said Team Germany are enthusiast at the prospect of another race weekend at the Race Of Champions.
"We are always excited to come to the Race Of Champions as it's always a highlight for us at the end of the year," said Schumacher, the fabled seven-time world champion himself. "We're happy to be over here in Bangkok this time and we're very much looking forward to showing what we can do down on the track later on."
On the other hand, Vettel, who just picked up his third consecutive F1 world championship in Brazil a few weeks ago, emphasized the fun character of the event.
"What's special about the Race Of Champions is that it's a good challenge with the different cars and it's a great opportunity to meet drivers from different categories," he pointed out. "It's very relaxed - you can compete against each other and then grab a drink after the race and have some fun."
ROC Nations Cup Draw (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 (Nattavude CHAROENSUKAWATTANA & Tin SRITRAI)
Team Australia (Mick DOOHAN & Jamie WHINCUP)
Team India (Narain KARTHIKEYAN & Karun CHANDHOK)
Race Of Champions Draw (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
Ho-Pin TUNG, fastest qualifier from ROC Asia
Nattavude CHAROENSUKAWATTANA, 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
Tin SRITRAI, runner-up from ROC Thailand
Group D
Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
Kazuya OHSHIMA, second fastest qualifier from ROC Asia
Romain GROSJEAN, three Formula 1 podiums in 2012