Race of Champions moves to Mexico City in 2019

Location of Race of Champions

The Race Of Champions (ROC) is heading to Latin America for the very first time in its history after Mexico City saw off contenders from all over the world to win the right to host the famous festival of global motorsport.

ROC Mexico will be held on January 19-20, 2019 at the Foro Sol, the amphitheater forming part of Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez Formula 1 circuit. The venue has reached iconic status among race fans and it is also used as a stadium for baseball matches and rock concerts. Now it will provide the perfect backdrop for the Race Of Champions, where many of the world’s greatest drivers have a rare chance to race in identical cars on ROC’s purpose-built track. This will be built entirely within the Foro Sol itself, so fans will have a perfect view of every corner from every seat .

The Foro Sol will join a list of prestigious venues to have hosted ROC since 1988 – including Beijing’s Bird’s Nest and London’s Olympic stadiums, Stade de France in Paris, Wembley Stadium in London, Miami’s Marlins Park plus a wide range of exotic locations all over the world from Bangkok to Barbados to Riyadh.

The Race Of Champions is an annual contest which has a history dating back over 30 years. It brings together many of the world’s greatest drivers from motorsport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, NASCAR, IndyCar, Le Mans, World Rally and RallyX – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

The event enjoys a rich record of attracting global superstars from every corner of motorsport. Formula 1 World Champions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button have raced against NASCAR stars Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Busch brothers Kyle and Kurt, IndyCar’s Juan Pablo Montoya and Ryan Hunter-Reay, World Rally greats Sebastien Loeb, Sebastien Ogier and Colin McRae, as well as prominent figures from other classes including record Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, X Games legend Travis Pastrana plus MotoGP icons Mick Doohan, Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

Now the greats of Mexican motorsport have the chance to race some of the world’s best drivers – all in ROC’s identical machinery. The competitors will take to the track in a stunning range of supercars that have been specially prepared for ROC to push them to the absolute limit. To prevail, they will have to master this mix of machines, forcing them to adapt their driving style as they make regular switches between cars and putting all their hard-earned skills to the test.

It makes for a thrilling spectacle, with head-to-head races often decided by fractions of a second – as the screams of the crowd compete for supremacy with the screams of the engines…

The Race Of Champions is run over two days: first comes the ROC Nations Cup (on Saturday January 19) when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality – including the hosts Mexico – to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation’. Then on Sunday January 20 it’s time for the Race Of Champions itself, when teamwork goes out of the window and it’s a flat-out battle for individual glory.

But that’s not all. The Race Of Champions is a non-stop show from start to finish and also features stunt shows on four wheels and two plus DJs, cheerleaders and plenty of other entertainment to keep the race fans on the edge of their seats.

ROC President Fredrik Johnsson said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Race Of Champions to Mexico City. The Foro Sol is an incredible arena to watch motor sport, and it’s no surprise that it has already reached iconic status with fans of Formula 1. It is a perfect location for ROC Mexico, where the greats of motorsport will show off all their skills in identical supercars on our purpose-built track.

“Rest assured we will put together a memorable event for fans of fast cars and even faster drivers. Mexican race fans are passionate about their sport and I’m sure they will enjoy the competition and shows we put on – with a perfect view of all the action from every seat. So we look forward to welcoming a packed crowd to enjoy the sights and sounds of some of the world’s best drivers battling it out. If you’re into non-stop action and excitement, the Race Of Champions is the ideal event for you.

“Can a Mexican driver use all the energy generated by their home crowd to find the fractions of a second that so often make all the difference in a ROC head-to-head? Will a home grown driver go all the way to the final and seal our coveted ‘Champion of Champions’ crown? You can be there to find out…"

Ticket prices start at just $1,450 pesos for two days of non-stop action, but there are fewer than 20,000 seats still available, so fans are advised to act now. Further details about the competing drivers will be announced in the run-up to January’s event.

For access to rights-free high-resolution imagery and to keep up with all the latest news ahead of ROC Mexico please visit www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook plus @raceofchampions and #ROCMexico on Twitter.