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Hunter-Reay Cherishes Race Of Champions Chances

Ryan Hunter-Reay
Ryan Hunter-Reay

Ryan Hunter-Reay is driving in the Race Of Champions for the third time, which he believes will provide a level of familiarity with the format, cars and competitors.

But the 2012 Verizon IndyCar Series champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner – along with the 19 other drivers from multiple motorsports disciplines – will contend with a new track layout and racing structure today and Saturday at Olympic Stadium in London.

The event is divided into two sections: the ROC Nations Cup, in which drivers are paired in geographically centered teams, and the Race Of Champions for individual competition. Taped highlights will be televised in the United States at 7 p.m. ET Nov. 29 on CBS Sports Network.

Drivers will continue to race head-to-head in identical cars on the same track, so winners will be decided by driver skill. In previous years, drivers have raced side-by-side on a parallel track linked by a crossover bridge. Now they will take part in an Olympic cycling-style pursuit race where the racers start next to each other but facing opposite directions. At the green light, they will speed off in a bid to hunt each other down.

"I got to the semifinals last year and I'm hopeful of bettering that this year," said Hunter-Reay, Hunter-Reay, who made his Race Of Champions debut in 2012 in Thailand and also drove in the event last year in Barbados. "It's a unique challenge to jump in and out of all the cars when you get such a short amount of seat time in each.

"I love the event and it's an honor to be among the world's greatest drivers. To even receive an invite is a huge compliment, and to go and compete against them is something that I cherish."

Hunter-Reay, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has drawn two-time World Touring Car champion Jose Maria Lopez of Argentina in his first head-to-head match in the Race Of Champions. Hunter-Reay and Lopez will be teammates under the Team Americas banner in the Nations Cup. Their first match is against Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg of Team Nordic.