Race Of Champions

OFFICIALPROGRAMME 14-12-08

£5.00 www.raceofchampions.com

d i s in 90

E WW

HO

!P T I ID

D

WELCOME TO THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS Greetings from Michèle Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson

WELCOME TO WEMBLEY STADIUM Roger Maslin, Acting Managing Director, Wembley Stadium

SPECTATOR INFORMATION Facilities and services at Wembley Stadium EVENT TIMETABLE & MSA Regulations INTRODUCING RACE OF CHAMPIONS The concept and history ROC KNOCKOUT TABLES Champions and winners HOY VS HAMILTON Britains world champions duel it out A FLYING LAP ...with Formula 1 driver Jenson Button DRIVER INTERVIEW 2008 WSBK Champion Troy Bayliss WRANGLING WEMBLEY Transition from Football to Fast Cars...

THE ROC MARSHALS PICTURE GALLERY Highlights from last year’s event STADIUM MAP

4

OY P33 H S V LEWIS

: e d XXXXXX

S

IVER R D E H T

Team Germany

Programme designed and produced by

Team Autosport GB

Team Australia Team Ireland

Team Scandinavia

RS

THE CA

Team USA Team F1 Racing GB Team France

The ROC Car KTM X-Bow Ford Focus RS World Rally Car

TRMG Ltd Winchester Court, 1 Forum Place, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 0RN Tel: 01707 273 999 Fax: 01707 269 333 www.trmg.co.uk

Editor: Malcolm Anderson, Assistant Editors: Jamie Ringrose, Chris Hough, Laurie Caddell Design: Lee Clarkson Production Editor: Jamie Ringrose Photographer: Michael Ward / ROC Contributors: Adam Cooper Publisher: Paula Skinner Advertising Sales: Catherine Chapman Advertising Production: Tracey Killick Advertising Reprographics: Kieran Fogden, Steve Spicer Advertising Sales Director: Charlie Wise Publishing Director: Jonathan Fellows Director: Andrew Stevens Printed by: William Gibbons

Fiat 500 Abarth RX 150

Event organised by International Media Promotions Les Caravelles 25, Boulevard Albert 1er MC 98000 Monaco Tel: (+377) 97 97 22 88 www.imp.mc Š2008 TRMG & IMP All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without written permission of the copyright owners. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions.

5

MAKINGHISTORY

THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS EVENT HAS 2 FACES. MAN AND TEAM. LET’S DIVE INTO THE SEARCH FOR THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS. HOW DO WE FIND THE FINEST POUND-FOR-POUND DRIVER OF THE YEAR? READ ON…

The

premise is simple: using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on their talent alone. Each year at The Race Of Champions, the World’s best circuit racers and off-road drivers compete head-to-head.

It’s been 20 years since its conception by IMP President Fredrik Johnsson and the world’s best female rally driver Michele Mouton, and the ROC remains the only opportunity for drivers to race in exactly the same cars on a parallel track.

In 2008, sixteen drivers will compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their Class Champion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is the master of motor sport, the winners from the two divisions will go head-to-head in a super final.

The winner is rewarded with the much coveted title “The Champion of Champions”. >>>

18

Action from the 2006 ROC at the Stade de France: Main: Bernd Schneider driving the ROC car in the quarter final of the Nations Cup

an

19

ATHLETICEXCELLENCE

l a d pe VERY FEW ATHLETES SUM UP THE SPIRIT OF ‘IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING’ BETTER THAN CHRIS HOY.

The

most successful Olympic Games cyclist of all time is now squaring up for the ultimate challenge – man versus motor – as he takes on Lewis Hamilton at Wembley to see if two wheels can be faster than four.

Hoy has always looked to achieve the impossible.

In 2005, his strongest event, the kilo, was dropped from the Olympic Games programme. Undeterred, Hoy switched his focus to the individual sprint and in just three years he managed to win the World Championships in Manchester and take gold at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In winning this event, the team sprint and Keirin, he became Scotland’s most successful Olympian ever and the first Briton to win three medals in a single Olympic Games in a hundred years. Now Hoy is looking ahead to London 2012 to see if he can repeat the successes he had in Beijing and win yet more medals, this time on home turf.

38

“Competing in Beijing was a fantastic experience.

The Chinese people put on an amazing event and I was proud to be a part of Team GB’s most successful squad since 1908. Competing in London will be an even more special occasion. Having the home crowd support will be fantastic. We got a sense of what that will be like during the victory parade that took place when we came back from Beijing and I’m sure that in four year’s time hopefully the whole country will be backing us.”

Hoy is supported by adidas, a London 2012 sponsor. The UK’s leading sports brand has an active involvement in cycling, supplying product to the GB Cycling team through its sponsorship of the British Olympic Association. adidas also works with gold medal-winning cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton, and BMX rider, Shanaze Reade, who narrowly missed out on a medal in Beijing but is tipped for success in London. >>>

39

FLYINGLAP

n o s n Je WITH...

Button ADAM COOPER CAUGHT UP WITH JENSEN AS HE PREPARED TO RETURN TO THE ROC ARENA.

As

the Race of Champions rolls in to Wembley for 2008, Jensen Button talks us through his debut last year and what it feels like to drive in the competition.

“As it was in England I thought I’d give it a go! It was good fun”, he says. “It was a weird thing to

get used to, because they’re such different cars from what I would normally drive. I’ve been driving a Formula 1 car for the last nine years, and I haven’t driven anything else really, so it was quite a surprise. But it was great, especially as there were so many top drivers doing it!

Hopefully this year I’ll be a bit stronger. The circuit is not that different, and some of the cars are quite similar to last year. And again there will be a lot of good drivers taking part again.

Sébastien Loeb is there this time around and you’ve got people like Troy Bayliss too.

It’s not very often that you get to meet the motorbike guys.”

So does he think he can do better having learned the ropes last year? “I think so. A lot of the guys were there last year or have competed for the last few years, so I am sure experience helps a little bit.” >>>

THEDRIVERS

TEAM GERMANY

MICHAELSCHUMACHER

TEAM GERMANY

SEBASTIANVETTEL

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher took

After securing the 2004 Formula BMW Germany title, Sebastian Vettel

part in the 2004 Race of Champions, held at the Stade de France, and

received the call-up from BMW Williams F1 for a late-season test.

made it through to the semi-final stage before he was knocked out of

The following year, BMW Sauber gave him a second F1

the competition by Heikki Kovalainen. The Finn celebrated beating

opportunity, making him the youngest-ever driver to take part in a

the German by dancing on a Ferrari. It was the first time

Grand Prix weekend. Typically, he set the fastest time.

Schumacher had raced his contemporaries in equal machinery and he thoroughly enjoyed himself, hinting that he might return.

In 2004, The Race of Champions ran a head-to-head between F1 World Champion Schumacher and World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb in identical cars. Schumacher won.

Following Robert Kubica’s huge crash in Canada,Vettel was offered the Polish driver’s BMW for the US GP at Indianapolis. Amazingly he finished eighth, becoming the youngest points-scorer in F1 history.

Now driving for Scuderia Toro Rosso, Sebastian finished 8th in the 2008 F1 Driver’s Championship, winning in Italy along the way.

SPOTLIGHT ON SCHUMACHER

SPOTLIGHT ON VETTEL

• 83 F1 GP wins, 63 poles • 209 starts in F1 Grand-Prix • 1991: First F1 Grand-Prix for Jordan (GP of Belgium) • Start in Karting in 1983

• Best F1 finish: 1st at the 2008 Italian GP, 8th in Championship

CAREER RECORD

• 2004: Winner of Formula BMW ADAC with 18 wins in 20 races

• 7 times World F1 Champion (1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 & 2004) • 2nd All-Japan F3000 Championship in 1991 • 5th Sports-Protoype World Championship in 1990 • 1990 German Formula 3 Champion • 1988 German Formula König Champion • 1987 European Kart Champion • 1987 German Senior Kart Champion • 1984 & 85 German Junior Kart Champion

RECORD IN THE ROC-NATIONS CUP • 2007: ROC Finalist, runner-up to Mattias Ekstrom.

ROC Nations Cup Winner with Sebastian Vettel • 2004: ROC Semi-finalist

• 2006: Runner-up in Formula 3 Euroseries • 2005: Winner of the Formula 3 Rookie Championship • 2001: Winner of German Junior Karting Championship

CAREER RECORD • 2007: F1 with BMW Sauber and Toro Rosso - best finish 4th • 2006: Runner-up in Formula 3 Euroseries • 2005: Winner of the Formula 3 Rookie Championship • 2004: Winner of Formula BMW ADAC with 18 wins in 20 races • 2001: Winner of German Junior Karting Championship

RECORD IN THE ROC-NATIONS CUP • 2007: ROC Nations Cup Winner with Michael Schumacher

THEDRIVERS

TEAM AUTOSPORT GB

JENSONBUTTON

In 1991 Jenson Button won all 34 rounds of the British Cadet Kart Championship. In 1998 he won the title of McLaren Autosport BRDC Young Driver of the Year, and in Formula 3 the following year he claimed pole in his first outing and was named Rookie of the Year, finishing third overall.

Formula 1 beckoned, with a drive for Williams in 2000.

The youngest driver on the grid, Jenson scored a point in only his second race and went on to finish eighth overall. He remained a

TEAM AUTOSPORT GB

ANDYPRIAULX

Andy Priaulx has established himself as one of the greatest touring car drivers in the world. The 32-year-old is a triple World Touring Car Champion (2005-2007) and was the 2004 European Champion, each with BMW. He has also won the Nürburgring 24 hours in 2005, and was BMW’s official Formula 1 test driver in 2005. Priaulx switched to the British Touring Car Championship in 2002. In 2003 he finished third in the inaugural European Touring Car Championship and has now dominated the category for four years.

loyal servant to Honda throughout a turbulent 2008 F1 season, and his raw driving talent will be the invaluable asset he takes with him whatever the future holds.

SPOTLIGHT ON BUTTON • 1 win, 14 podiums, 3 poles • 2002: Debut in Formula One for Williams - Australia GP • 1990: Debut in karting CAREER RECORD • 2006: Scores first Formula One win (Hungary) plus two more podiums • 2005: 9th in Formula One World Championship • 2004: 3rd in Formula One World Championship (10 podiums) • 1999: 3rd in British F3 Championship, 2nd at Macau, rookie of the year • 1998: British Formula Ford Champion, Runner-up in European Championship • 1997: European Super A Champion • 1996: 3rd in World Formula A Cup, 5th of European Championship • 1995: Italy Karting Champion, Runner-up in World Formula A Championship

SPOTLIGHT ON PRIAULX • 18 wins & four championships in BTCC, ETCC & WTCC, from 2001-2007 • 2007: Wins third WTCC title, the first British driver to win three consecutive FIA World titles • 2005: F1 test drives BMW-Williams • 2001: Debut in BTCC • 1999: BTCC test drives Renault, Vauxhall & Ford • 1991: Debut in Hillclimb • 1986: Debut in Karting CAREER RECORD • 2007: WTCC Champion (BMW 320si) • 2006: WTCC Champion (BMW 320si) • 2005: WTCC Champion (BMW 320i), Nürburgring 24H Winner (BMW M3 GT-R) • 2004: ETCC Champion (BMW 320i) • 2003: 3rd in ETCC (BMW 320i) • 2002: 5th in BTCC (Honda Civic) • 2001: 6th in British F3 championship (2 wins) • 1999: British Renault Sport Spider Champion (13 wins) • 1998: Runner-up in British Formula Palmer Audi • 1995: Hillclimb British Champion (10 wins) RECORD IN THE ROC-NATIONS CUP • 2007: Reached semi-finals with Autosport Team England in The ROC Nations Cup and The Race of Champions

RAWMATERIALS

TYRES • PIRELLI

ABARTH 500 ASSETTO CORSE ENGINE • CAPACITY: 1368CC, FOUR CYLINDERS, 1.4 LITRE TURBO • POWER OUTPUT: 200HP AT 6,500RPM • TORQUE: 300NM AT 3,000RPM • GEARBOX: 6 SPEED,

SUSPENSION • MCPHERSON

WEIGHT • 1230KG

TRACKBUILD

h c t i PInvasion WEMBLEY’S MORE FAMOUS GUISE HAS SEEN MANY GERMANS TAKING MANY CORNERS... BUT NOT THE WAY MICHAEL SCHUMACHER DOES IT! HERE’S HOW THE GREEN GRASS BECOMES GREY TARMAC. >>>

86

TIMELINE

TRANSFOR MATION

XXXXXX

– Wed 3rd Dec • After the Rugby match the lateral crowd barrier and pitch-side seats are removed overnight.

– Thu 4th Dec • Surveyor starts marking out circuit.

• Eve Trakway begin laying base trakway.

– Fri 5th Dec • South seating pocket fully removed • Hardstaff commence placing concrete barriers • Base Trakway construction continues

– Sat 6th Dec • West seating pocket totally removed • Crane and bridge units arrive. Bridge built on site • Base Trakway and concrete barriers are completed • Bridge construction completed – Sun 7th Dec • Race track construction begins – Mon 8th Dec • Race track construction (base-layer) – Tues 9th Dec • Race track construction (surface-layer) • Banking constructed – Wed 10th Dec • Finishing work (rumble strips) • Track completed by lunchtime.

87