All-time Le Mans great Tom Kristensen to ROC again
The end-of-season contest, held every year since 1988, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, Le Mans, MotoGP, Nascar, IndyCar, touring cars and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.
Denmark’s Kristensen is acknowledged as the finest endurance racer in motor sport history. His victory for Audi at this year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race in partnership with Allan McNish and Loic Duval took his record haul of wins to nine – in addition to his record six wins at the Sebring 12-Hour race and an American Le Mans Series title. The trio’s win at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas last weekend means they have also extended their lead in the 2013 FIA World Endurance Championship.
Kristensen’s Race Of Champions roll of honor is impressive too, having appeared at every event since 2001 – yet another record. He has achieved considerable success during that time, notably reaching the individual Grand Final in each of the last two years only to fall to French opposition: first world rally ace Sébastien Ogier then F1 star Romain Grosjean. To have come so close will doubtless spur the Dane on to even greater feats as he bids for his first Champion of Champions title in 2013.
Kristensen said: “The Race Of Champions is a great way to end the season: always fun with great camaraderie among all the drivers from different types of motor sport. That is why I come back every year. Still, I do give everything to win and I’m getting closer every year! The challenge is to jump into different cars and Romain deserved to win in 2012. But even though I’m a bit older, to reach the final and race the youngsters is still a lot of fun. Last year was the warmest ROC I have competed in so we know what to expect in Bangkok. I’m still young so maybe one day I’ll get the chance to win it… preferably in December."
The Race Of Champions brings together stars from all over the world: seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher is already signed up and the rest of this year’s line-up will be announced in the run-up to December’s event. Along with Kristensen’s haul from Le Mans, the 2012 field featured a total of 10 F1 world championships from Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, seven MotoGP titles via Jorge Lorenzo and Mick Doohan plus greats from touring cars (Andy Priaulx), IndyCar (Ryan Hunter-Reay), V8 Supercars (Jamie Whincup) and more.
ROC 2013 will take place on a specially constructed tarmac track with two parallel lanes winding their way round Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium. Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduled for Saturday 14 December, ahead of the individual Race Of Champions on Sunday 15 December.
Race organizer Fredrik Johnsson said: “It’s great to have Tom back in our line-up for ROC 2013 in Bangkok. His record ninth victory at this year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race shows his appetite for success is as strong as ever. But everyone at ROC knew that already after seeing his determined runs to the last two finals. He’s a legend in his field and it would not surprise me to see him come out on top at ROC too. We hope to see a big crowd savoring the chance to watch Tom take on all the other greats."
Ticket details will be released shortly. For further information and access to high-resolution imagery please visit www.raceofchampions.com. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, @raceofchampions on Twitter or Race Of Champions on Facebook.
The driver line-up for the 2012 Race Of Champions included:
- Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
- Sebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2012, 2011, 2010
- Jorge LORENZO, MotoGP World Champion 2012, 2010
- Tom KRISTENSEN, nine-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
- Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
- Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
- David COULTHARD, 13-time Formula 1 grand prix winner
- Andy PRIAULX, three-time World Touring Car Champion
- Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
- Benito GUERRA, Production World Rally Champion 2012
- Narain KARTHIKEYAN, 2012 Formula 1 driver for HRT
- Karun CHANDHOK, Formula 1 driver for HRT and Team Lotus
- Nattavude CHAROENSUKAWATTANA, Supercar Thailand Champion 2010
- Tin SRITRAI, Touring Car Series in Asia by IMSP Champion 2012
- Kazuya OHSHIMA, Class winner Nürburgring 24-Hour race 2012, 2010
- Takuto IGUCHI, Class winner Nürburgring 24-Hour race 2012
- Ho-Pin TUNG, Formula 1 test driver for Renault
- Han HAN, China Rally and China Touring Car Champion 2012
- Romain GROSJEAN, three Formula 1 podiums in 2012
- Sébastien OGIER, over 10 WRC rally wins and leading the 2013 title race