race of champions

£5.00

OFFICIALPROGRAMME 14-12-08

www.raceofchampions.com

insidWELCOME TO THE RACE OF CHAMPIONSGreetings from Michèle Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson

WELCOME TO WEMBLEY STADIUMRoger Maslin, Acting Managing Director, Wembley Stadium

SPECTATOR INFORMATIONFacilities and services at Wembley Stadium

EVENT TIMETABLE& MSA Regulations

INTRODUCING RACE OF CHAMPIONSThe concept and history

ROC KNOCKOUT TABLESChampions and winners

HOY VS HAMILTONBritains world champions duel it out

A FLYING LAP...with Formula 1 driver Jenson Button

DRIVER INTERVIEW2008 WSBK Champion Troy Bayliss

WRANGLING WEMBLEYTransition from Football to Fast Cars...

THE ROC MARSHALS

PICTURE GALLERYHighlights from last year’s event

STADIUM MAP

HOW WE DID IT! P90

LEWIS VS HOY P33

XXXXXX

Programme designed and produced by

TRMG LtdWinchester Court, 1 Forum Place,

Hatfield, Herts, AL10 0RNTel: 01707 273 999Fax: 01707 269 333

www.trmg.co.uk

Editor: Malcolm Anderson,Assistant Editors: Jamie Ringrose,

Chris Hough, Laurie CaddellDesign: Lee Clarkson

Production Editor: Jamie RingrosePhotographer: Michael Ward / ROC

Contributors: Adam CooperPublisher: Paula Skinner

Advertising Sales: Catherine ChapmanAdvertising Production: Tracey Killick

Advertising Reprographics: Kieran Fogden, Steve Spicer

Advertising Sales Director: Charlie WisePublishing Director: Jonathan Fellows

Director: Andrew StevensPrinted by: William Gibbons

Event organised byInternational Media Promotions

Les Caravelles25, Boulevard Albert 1er

MC 98000 MonacoTel: (+377) 97 97 22 88

www.imp.mc

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.

de:Team Germany

Team Autosport GB

Team Australia

Team Ireland

Team Scandinavia

Team USA

Team F1 Racing GB

Team France

THE DRIVERS

THE CARS

The ROC Car

KTM X-Bow

Ford Focus RS World Rally Car

Fiat 500 Abarth

RX 150

insidWELCOME TO THE RACE OF CHAMPIONSGreetings from Michèle Mouton and Fredrik Johnsson

WELCOME TO WEMBLEY STADIUMRoger Maslin, Acting Managing Director, Wembley Stadium

SPECTATOR INFORMATIONFacilities and services at Wembley Stadium

EVENT TIMETABLE& MSA Regulations

INTRODUCING RACE OF CHAMPIONSThe concept and history

ROC KNOCKOUT TABLESChampions and winners

HOY VS HAMILTONBritains world champions duel it out

A FLYING LAP...with Formula 1 driver Jenson Button

DRIVER INTERVIEW2008 WSBK Champion Troy Bayliss

WRANGLING WEMBLEYTransition from Football to Fast Cars...

THE ROC MARSHALS

PICTURE GALLERYHighlights from last year’s event

STADIUM MAP

HOW WE DID IT! P90

LEWIS VS HOY P33

XXXXXX

Programme designed and produced by

TRMG LtdWinchester Court, 1 Forum Place,

Hatfield, Herts, AL10 0RNTel: 01707 273 999Fax: 01707 269 333

www.trmg.co.uk

Editor: Malcolm Anderson,Assistant Editors: Jamie Ringrose,

Chris Hough, Laurie CaddellDesign: Lee Clarkson

Production Editor: Jamie RingrosePhotographer: Michael Ward / ROC

Contributors: Adam CooperPublisher: Paula Skinner

Advertising Sales: Catherine ChapmanAdvertising Production: Tracey Killick

Advertising Reprographics: Kieran Fogden, Steve Spicer

Advertising Sales Director: Charlie WisePublishing Director: Jonathan Fellows

Director: Andrew StevensPrinted by: William Gibbons

Event organised byInternational Media Promotions

Les Caravelles25, Boulevard Albert 1er

MC 98000 MonacoTel: (+377) 97 97 22 88

www.imp.mc

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.

de:Team Germany

Team Autosport GB

Team Australia

Team Ireland

Team Scandinavia

Team USA

Team F1 Racing GB

Team France

THE DRIVERS

THE CARS

The ROC Car

KTM X-Bow

Ford Focus RS World Rally Car

Fiat 500 Abarth

RX 150

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

THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS EVENT HAS2 FACES. MAN AND TEAM. LET’S DIVEINTO THE SEARCH FOR THE CHAMPIONOF CHAMPIONS. HOW DO WE FINDTHE FINEST POUND-FOR-POUNDDRIVER OF THE YEAR? READ ON…

Thepremise is simple: using identical equipment andtrack, drivers can prove themselves based ontheir talent alone. Each year at The Race Of

Champions, the World’s best circuit racers and off-road driverscompete 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 fordrivers to race in exactly the same cars on a parallel track.

In 2008, sixteen drivers will compete in a series ofknockout heats in their own division to determine their ClassChampion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is themaster of motor sport, the winners from the two divisionswill go head-to-head in a super final.

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

MAKINGHISTORY

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

THE RACE OF CHAMPIONS EVENT HAS2 FACES. MAN AND TEAM. LET’S DIVEINTO THE SEARCH FOR THE CHAMPIONOF CHAMPIONS. HOW DO WE FINDTHE FINEST POUND-FOR-POUNDDRIVER OF THE YEAR? READ ON…

Thepremise is simple: using identical equipment andtrack, drivers can prove themselves based ontheir talent alone. Each year at The Race Of

Champions, the World’s best circuit racers and off-road driverscompete 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 fordrivers to race in exactly the same cars on a parallel track.

In 2008, sixteen drivers will compete in a series ofknockout heats in their own division to determine their ClassChampion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is themaster of motor sport, the winners from the two divisionswill go head-to-head in a super final.

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

MAKINGHISTORY

ATHLETICEXCELLENCE

Themost successful Olympic Games cyclistof all time is now squaring up for theultimate challenge – man versus

motor – as he takes on Lewis Hamilton at Wembleyto 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 droppedfrom the Olympic Games programme. Undeterred,Hoy switched his focus to the individual sprint andin just three years he managed to win the WorldChampionships in Manchester and take gold at theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games. In winning this event,the team sprint and Keirin, he became Scotland’smost successful Olympian ever and the first Britonto win three medals in a single Olympic Games in ahundred years. Now Hoy is looking ahead toLondon 2012 to see if he can repeat the successeshe had in Beijing and win yet more medals, thistime on home turf.

“Competing in Beijing was a fantastic experience.The Chinese people put on an amazing event and Iwas proud to be a part of Team GB’s mostsuccessful squad since 1908. Competing in Londonwill be an even more special occasion. Having thehome crowd support will be fantastic. We got asense of what that will be like during the victoryparade that took place when we came back fromBeijing and I’m sure that in four year’s timehopefully the whole country will be backing us.”

Hoy is supported by adidas, a London 2012sponsor. The UK’s leading sports brand has an activeinvolvement in cycling, supplying product to the GBCycling team through its sponsorship of the BritishOlympic Association.

adidas also works with gold medal-winning cyclistsBradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton, and BMX rider,Shanaze Reade, who narrowly missed out on a medalin Beijing but is tipped for success in London. >>>

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

ATHLETICEXCELLENCE

Themost successful Olympic Games cyclistof all time is now squaring up for theultimate challenge – man versus

motor – as he takes on Lewis Hamilton at Wembleyto 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 droppedfrom the Olympic Games programme. Undeterred,Hoy switched his focus to the individual sprint andin just three years he managed to win the WorldChampionships in Manchester and take gold at theBeijing 2008 Olympic Games. In winning this event,the team sprint and Keirin, he became Scotland’smost successful Olympian ever and the first Britonto win three medals in a single Olympic Games in ahundred years. Now Hoy is looking ahead toLondon 2012 to see if he can repeat the successeshe had in Beijing and win yet more medals, thistime on home turf.

“Competing in Beijing was a fantastic experience.The Chinese people put on an amazing event and Iwas proud to be a part of Team GB’s mostsuccessful squad since 1908. Competing in Londonwill be an even more special occasion. Having thehome crowd support will be fantastic. We got asense of what that will be like during the victoryparade that took place when we came back fromBeijing and I’m sure that in four year’s timehopefully the whole country will be backing us.”

Hoy is supported by adidas, a London 2012sponsor. The UK’s leading sports brand has an activeinvolvement in cycling, supplying product to the GBCycling team through its sponsorship of the BritishOlympic Association.

adidas also works with gold medal-winning cyclistsBradley Wiggins and Victoria Pendleton, and BMX rider,Shanaze Reade, who narrowly missed out on a medalin Beijing but is tipped for success in London. >>>

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

FLYINGLAP

ButtonJenson WITH...

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

Asthe Race ofChampions rolls in toWembley for 2008,

Jensen Button talks us through hisdebut last year and what it feelslike to drive in the competition.

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

get used to, because they’re suchdifferent cars from what I wouldnormally drive. I’ve been drivinga Formula 1 car for the last nineyears, and I haven’t drivenanything else really, so it wasquite a surprise. But it was great,especially as there were so manytop drivers doing it!

Hopefully this year I’ll be a bitstronger. The circuit is not thatdifferent, and some of the carsare quite similar to last year. Andagain there will be a lot of gooddrivers taking part again.Sébastien Loeb is there this timearound and you’ve got peoplelike Troy Bayliss too.

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

So does he think he can dobetter having learned the ropeslast year? “I think so. A lot of theguys were there last year or havecompeted for the last few years,so I am sure experience helps alittle bit.” >>>

FLYINGLAP

ButtonJenson WITH...

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

Asthe Race ofChampions rolls in toWembley for 2008,

Jensen Button talks us through hisdebut last year and what it feelslike to drive in the competition.

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

get used to, because they’re suchdifferent cars from what I wouldnormally drive. I’ve been drivinga Formula 1 car for the last nineyears, and I haven’t drivenanything else really, so it wasquite a surprise. But it was great,especially as there were so manytop drivers doing it!

Hopefully this year I’ll be a bitstronger. The circuit is not thatdifferent, and some of the carsare quite similar to last year. Andagain there will be a lot of gooddrivers taking part again.Sébastien Loeb is there this timearound and you’ve got peoplelike Troy Bayliss too.

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

So does he think he can dobetter having learned the ropeslast year? “I think so. A lot of theguys were there last year or havecompeted for the last few years,so I am sure experience helps alittle bit.” >>>

THEDRIVERS

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

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.

JENSONBUTTON

TEAM AUTOSPORT GB

ANDYPRIAULX

TEAM AUTOSPORT GB

Andy Priaulx has established himself as one of the greatesttouring car drivers in the world. The 32-year-old is a triple WorldTouring Car Champion (2005-2007) and was the 2004 EuropeanChampion, each with BMW.

He has also won the Nürburgring 24 hours in 2005, and wasBMW’s official Formula 1 test driver in 2005. Priaulx switched tothe British Touring Car Championship in 2002. In 2003 he finishedthird in the inaugural European Touring Car Championship andhas now dominated the category for four years.

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

THEDRIVERS

Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher took

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

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

the competition by Heikki Kovalainen. The Finn celebrated beating

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

MICHAELSCHUMACHER

TEAM GERMANY

SEBASTIANVETTEL

TEAM GERMANY

After securing the 2004 Formula BMW Germany title, Sebastian Vettel

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

The following year, BMW Sauber gave him a second F1

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

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

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• 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

CAREER RECORD• 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

SPOTLIGHT ON VETTEL

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

• 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

CAREER RECORD

• 2007: F1 with BMW Sauber and Toro Rosso - best finish 4th

RECORD IN THE ROC-NATIONS CUP

• 2007: ROC Nations Cup Winner with Michael Schumacher