The first-ever Race of Champions was held in 1988 in memory of Henri Toivonen, who died in a rally accident two years prior. Since then, the event has been held almost annually.
Last year’s competition was skipped, but next March, motorsport stars will get back into action in Sydney, Australia. Over the years, the event has featured numerous top drivers from both rally and circuit racing, and next year will be no exception.
Two top rally drivers have been confirmed for the Sydney race. Nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb will be on the starting line, as will New Zealand rally ace Hayden Paddon.
In the Race of Champions, drivers face off in head-to-head races using identical cars. In Sydney, the competition will take place on an tarmac track built inside the Olympic Stadium, where drivers will go head-to-head.
Loeb has a chance to make history at the event. The French legend has been crowned champion of champions four times, and if he secures a fifth title, he will become the most successful driver in the event’s history. Didier Auriol and Mattias Ekström have also reached four wins in the Race of Champions.
“I am pretty good at adapting to different types of cars and tracks so my objective is of course to try to win my fifth ROC title now that this great event is back in a big stadium again,” Loeb stated.
Paddon, who won the last two European Rally Championship titles, will be competing in the iconic race for the first time.
“I’ve been watching the Race Of Champions every year since my hero Colin McRae won ROC in Gran Canaria, always hoping that one day I would be invited to compete,” Paddon shared.
Two top drivers from Germany, Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher, have also been confirmed for next year’s race.
