Vettel’s Red Bull Racing F1 car heads for ROC 2012
Vettel became the youngest man in history to win three F1 world championships in Sunday’s incident-packed Brazilian Grand Prix. Despite suffering an early spin and being sent to the back of the field, the German staged a great recovery in the rain to sixth place, enough to pip title rival Fernando Alonso by just three points.
Now fans attending next month’s Race Of Champions can sample Formula 1's noise and spectacle from as close as it gets as Vettel shows off the mighty Red Bull Racing RB7 that powered him to the second of his three titles.
ROC race organizer Fredrik Johnsson said: “Congratulations to Sebastian for taking his third Formula 1 world championship in one of the most dramatic finales ever seen in the sport. Now our Bangkok audience can watch Seb’s Red Bull Racing car, hear the deafening noise from its engine and even smell the smoke from its tires."
Another reigning world champion who will be performing in front of the lucky crowd will be 2012 MotoGP king Jorge Lorenzo, who will parade his Yamaha bike. Fans of classic machinery will also get to see 1984 world rally champion Stig Blomqvist take the Audi S1 Group B rally car for a spin.
Chris Pfeiffer Streetbike Freestyle Rider – four-time world stunt riding champion – will provide his own brand of two-wheeled stunts as he returns with his daredevil moves. And there will even be a world record attempt as stunt driver and ROC regular Terry Grant aims to set a new mark for the most consecutive donuts while standing on the roof of his car. To ensure there is never a break in the action there will also be DJs, cheerleaders and much more.
“We always treat our crowds to a non-stop feast of entertainment and this year is no exception," added Johnsson. “Alongside the reigning world champions on both two wheels and four, Chris Pfeiffer and Terry Grant will show just what can be achieved when you don’t bother to keep all those wheels on the ground. We guarantee action, spectacle and noise galore – and that’s not even to mention the main event."
The shows all support the Race Of Champions, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012. The competition 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.
ROC 2012 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 15 December, ahead of the individual Race Of Champions on Sunday 16 December.
Tickets are now on sale. For further information and access to hi-res 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.
Drivers confirmed for the 2012 Race Of Champions so far:
- Sebastian VETTEL, Red Bull Racing, Formula 1 World Champion 2012, 2011, 2010
- Michael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
- Jorge LORENZO, MotoGP World Champion 2012, 2010
- Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
- Ryan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012
- Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
- David COULTHARD, 13-time Formula 1 grand prix winner
- Tom KRISTENSEN, eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner
- Andy PRIAULX, three-time World Touring Car Champion