Monday 25th June 2007

Race of champions preview

Cars and stars at Wembley

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Racing stars are due at Wembley

Formula 1 cars pop up in the strangest places. Not content with appearing at Bonneville Salt Flats and the Nordschleife, last week F1 arrived at Wembley Stadium where Pistonheads was invited to watch David Coulthard run a series of deafening demonstration laps around the pitch to promote the Race of Champions event, scheduled for December 16^th.

Hosted for the last three years at the Stade de France, this year’s event features the return to competition of Schumacher Michael, with Coulthard, Colin McRae, Andy Priaulx and Jenson Button also confirmed. Event organiser Fredrik Johnsson is desperate to secure the signature of Lewis Hamilton which could well raise the intriguing prospect of a Schumacher vs Hamilton duel.

Two circuit layouts are currently being considered. One is a virtual replica of last year’s track at the Stade de France with a little tweaking due to the pitch at Wembley being a few metres shorter, while the other is a new layout which will require sections of the moveable seating area to be slid back. With a closed roof and an 80,000 crowd expected, bring your ear plugs. Ticket prices range from £30 to £110.

Not much margin for error in the stadium

As well as the individual event, the Nations Cup could see Scotland attempt to put one over the English at Wembley for the first time since 1977. The vehicle line up has yet to be confirmed but expect to see a pair of Aston Martin V8 Vantage Rally GTs as well as the 170bhp 1100cc ROC buggies that have long been a staple of the event. The 2006 event also featured Citroën WRCs and racing versions of the Renault Megane Trophy and Porsche 911 GT3. As McRae noted, “It’s always tough getting into a car you have no idea how to start in front of tens of thousands of people.” The diminutive Priaulx was more concerned about being able to reach the pedals.

The track itself is a feat of engineering. The turf is shaved and interlocking aluminium plates are laid down and then covered in hot asphalt lined with concrete walls, water bags and gravel traps. Speeds on the straight are expected to top 150km/h in the Astons.

For more details visit  http://www.raceofchampions.com

[jon-]

I REALLY want to see this, Lewis or not it will be an awesome event.

Money has to be on one of the WRC boys to be the most adaptable.

[havoc]

Would've loved to go now it's in the UK for a change, but we're out of the country that weekend!!!

...figures!

[GolfGT_Girl]

rather early to think about december!

[RedexRob]

GolfGT_Girl said:

rather early to think about december!

Totally agree !....I can,t get my head around next week !

[BoRED S2upid]

Went to this a couple of years back in the Stade De France great event from what I can remember Coulthard was V slow.

[AlexRWD]

Bought my tickets yesterday


- but who will Lewis Hamilton race for if they manage to get him, seeing as they've already confirmed Andy Priaulx and Jenson Button for the English team? JB has also appeared in the very lame promo video with Coulthard

- so Priaulx would get dumped for Lewis? I guess so.

Be interesting to see how MS gets on after a year out of the game - Kovalainen has also got to turn up as he beat MS last time they met in this.

[chrisbr68]

Yeah Ill be going to this, cant wait!

[mk1fan]

I remember reading on the ROC site that the Hosting nation can enter two teams if they wish so there could be a Team GB if LH agrees to show.

Booking my tickets this week - giving my mates the chance to make up their minds. Put it in my diary already, but haven't decided where I want to sit yet.

[Bungleaio]

This looks like it could be a good day out. Is there a seating plan or something that shows the difference in the different seat prices?

[chrisbr68]

Was just looking at the tickets on the autosport site, level 5 front sounds good to me. £55, high up so can see all the action and they dont cost a small fortune! You could pay almost £200 if you wished!!

[chrisbr68]

Tickets:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/cgi-bin/web_perfs.buy/...

Layout:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/shared/event_media/hay...

Hope that works!

[Goochie]

Does the new Wembly have a sliding roof thing like Cardiff? That'd be good for holding in the noise!

[williamp]

AlexRWD said:

Bought my tickets yesterday


- but who will Lewis Hamilton race for if they manage to get him, seeing as they've already confirmed Andy Priaulx and Jenson Button for the English team? JB has also appeared in the very lame promo video with Coulthard

- so Priaulx would get dumped for Lewis? I guess so.

Be interesting to see how MS gets on after a year out of the game - Kovalainen has also got to turn up as he beat MS last time they met in this.

Dont worry about that- last few years France have fielded two teams, one called "playstation france". You could simply do another team, called..er.... team Rosbeef or something.

Its an amazing day out. Last year, in the interluse they had two jet powered dragsters doing flame-outs in the stadium. The H&S yellowjackets would have a fit if that happened in the UK, so expect a message of love from Ken Livingstone instead...

[Bungleaio]

chrisbr68 said:

Tickets:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/cgi-bin/web_perfs.buy/...

Layout:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/shared/event_media/hay...

Hope that works!

Excellent stuff cheers mate

[GolfGT_Girl]

Bungleaio said:

chrisbr68 said:

Tickets:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/cgi-bin/web_perfs.buy/...

Layout:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/shared/event_media/hay...

Hope that works!

Excellent stuff cheers mate

what do you get for Level 1 Main Paddock Area
£189.00 + £5.50* GBP anything special?

[AlexRWD]

williamp said:

Dont worry about that- last few years France have fielded two teams, one called "playstation france". You could simply do another team, called..er.... team Rosbeef or something.

If Hamilton has managed to win the F1 title then it'll most likely be called team "Lewis is God"

[chrisbr68]

GolfGT_Girl said:

Bungleaio said:

chrisbr68 said:

Tickets:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/cgi-bin/web_perfs.buy/...

Layout:
http://www.ticketswitch.com/shared/event_media/hay...

Hope that works!

Excellent stuff cheers mate

what do you get for Level 1 Main Paddock Area
£189.00 + £5.50* GBP anything special?

Free bar?

[flattotheboards]

it would be great to see, why cant the ticket prices be cheaper seen as we have all contibuted towards the building of the stadium anyway.

[Bungleaio]

I've had a word with the lads and we're going. I've never had any desire to go to wembley before but now they are tarmacing it, it's a whole load more appealing

[thefrog]

Bought some tickets on thursday. I went last year in Paris and it was awesome. Proper racing up close and the guys aren't afraid to give it some.

McRae was very impressive in the aston, power-sliding it round the whole track on his way back to the pits.

Can't wait for december to come round.

PS: iirc Kovalainen won the individual event last year, beating Loeb in his own car in the final.