Mercedes-AMG GT S joins car line-up for ROC 2015 in London
The Mercedes-AMG GT S is the product of exceptional engineering craftsmanship and innovative motorsport technology, and the outward expression of the essence of Mercedes' performance brand AMG. It all makes for a stunning sports car that is sure to be a hit both with the drivers and the crowds watching in London next month, when four of them will be primed and ready to take to the track.
This will be the first time that Mercedes-AMG has provided cars for the competitive element of the Race Of Champions – where drivers always compete in identical machinery on the very same track. The cars will be raced by a stunning ROC 2015 line-up featuring motor sport legends drawn from series including Formula 1, Le Mans, Touring Cars, Rallycross and MotoGP.
But that's not all: the MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS Formula One team, newly crowned 2015 FIA Formula One World Champion Constructor for the second year in a row, will also be bringing its race-winning F1 car to the Race Of Champions to perform demonstration runs as part of the busy program of shows supporting the two main races. The world champions brought a car to last year's event at Bushy Park Barbados (pictured below), wowing the crowds with burnouts, donuts and more.
The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season contest which has been running for over 25 years. It brings together some of the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's major disciplines – including Formula 1, Le Mans, Rallycross, Touring Cars and MotoGP – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.
The event is run over two days: first comes the ROC Nations Cup (on the evening of Friday November 20) when drivers pair up in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of 'World's Fastest Nation'. Then on the afternoon of Saturday November 21 it's time for the Race Of Champions itself, when teamwork goes out of the window and it's a flat-out battle for individual glory as 'Champion of Champions'.
Drivers competing at ROC 2015 include F1 stars Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Romain Grosjean, Nico Hulkenberg and Felipe Massa, nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, reigning World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg, reigning Formula E Champion Nelson Piquet Jr, Williams Martini Racing's Official Test Driver Susie Wolff, British Touring Car great Jason Plato, ROC Champion of Champions David Coulthard plus MotoGP world champions Mick Doohan and Jorge Lorenzo.
ROC president Fredrik Johnsson said: "At the Race Of Champions we take pride not only in the driving talent we attract, but also the wide range of machinery they get the chance to compete in. The Mercedes-AMG GT S is a stunning addition to our line-up of cars and it is sure to be popular both with the drivers lucky enough to push it to its limits and the crowds who get to watch.
"We're also delighted to welcome back the race-winning Mercedes Formula 1 car as part of our packed program of shows supporting the racing. If you want to sample the sights and sounds of the peak of motor sport technology there is no better place than an enclosed environment like this. Anyone coming to London's former Olympic Stadium next month should prepare to be well and truly dazzled."
In recent years ROC has visited the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006), London's Wembley Stadium (2007-2008), the 'Bird's Nest' Olympic Stadium in Beijing (2009), Düsseldorf's Esprit Arena (2010-2011), the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok (2012) and Bushy Park Barbados (2014). Now the contest is returning to its European roots at the iconic home of the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Tickets for ROC 2015 in London are now available via www.raceofchampions.com. For access to rights-free high-resolution imagery and to keep up with all the latest news ahead of this year's event please visit www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook plus @raceofchampions and #ROCLondon on Twitter.
Drivers already announced for the 2015 Race Of Champions:
- Sebastian VETTEL, four-time Formula 1 World Champion
- Nico HULKENBERG, F1 star and 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours winner
- Tom KRISTENSEN, nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner
- Petter SOLBERG, World Rallycross Champion 2014, World Rally Champion 2003
- Daniel RICCIARDO, three-time Formula 1 grand prix winner
- Mick DOOHAN, five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion
- Felipe MASSA, 11-time Formula 1 grand prix winner
- Nelson PIQUET Jr, reigning FIA Formula E Champion
- David COULTHARD, reigning ROC Champion of Champions
- Susie WOLFF, Williams Martini Racing Official Test Driver
- Jason PLATO, double British Touring Car Champion
- Jorge LORENZO, double MotoGP World Champion
- Romain GROSJEAN, ten F1 podiums, 2012 ROC Champion of Champions
Drivers confirmed for the ROC Celebrity Skills Challenge presented by TAG Heuer:
- Chris HOY, six-time Olympic gold medalist in cycling
- Ben AINSLIE, four-time Olympic gold medalist in sailing
- Ella EYRE, MOBO award-winning singer/songwriter
- Jon-Allan BUTTERWORTH, multiple medal-winning Paralympic cyclist