This upcoming weekend (December 14-16) at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, the 25th edition of the Race of Champions (ROC) will be held which brings together the world’s greatest drivers, past and present from various motorsports main disciplines – including Formula 1, World Rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games and sets them free to battle in identical four-wheel machinery.
One of the groups (C) will see reigning MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo, 2012 F1 champion Sebastian Vettel and former five-time 500cc world champion Mick Doohan and the runner-up from ROC Thailand will be pitted against each other and the top two in each group earn the right to participate in the following knockout stages.
Check out the other stellar names and the groups they will be in following the draw that was held last Friday.
Group ASébastien OGIER, WRC star and reigning ROC ‘Champion of Champions’Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008David COULTHARD, 13 Formula 1 grand prix victoriesBenito GUERRA, Production World Rally Champion 2012 Group BTom KRISTENSEN, eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winnerAndy PRIAULX, three-time World Touring Car ChampionROC Asia 1, top non-Thailand competitor from ROC AsiaROC Thailand 1, winner of ROC Thailand Group CSebastian VETTEL, Formula 1 World Champion 2012, 2011, 2010Jorge LORENZO, MotoGP World Champion 2012, 2010Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World ChampionROC Thailand 2, runner-up from ROC Thailand Group DMichael SCHUMACHER, seven-time Formula 1 World ChampionRyan HUNTER-REAY, IndyCar Series Champion 2012ROC Asia 2, second-placed non-Thailand competitor from ROC AsiaRomain GROSJEAN, three Formula 1 podiums in 2012 The ROC Nations Cup will take place on the Saturday, where Schumacher and Vettel will be looking to continue this winning streak for Team Germany.
Lorenzo will be driving as part of the ‘All Stars’ team with Doohan alongside Jamie Whincup for Team Australia.
The group draw for the Nations Cup is as follows:ROC Nations Cup (Saturday December 15)Group ATeam France (Sébastien OGIER & Romain GROSJEAN)Team Great Britain (David COULTHARD & Andy PRIAULX)Team Americas (Ryan HUNTER-REAY & Benito GUERRA)Team All Stars (Tom KRISTENSEN & Jorge LORENZO) Group BTeam Germany (Michael SCHUMACHER & Sebastian VETTEL)Team Thailand (The two finalists from ROC Thailand)Team Australia (Mick DOOHAN & Jamie WHINCUP)Team Asia (The leading ROC Asia team other than Thailand)