Schumacher, Loeb and Alesi to compete
Loeb’s title raises the stakes for The Race of Champions – Nations Cup.
Sébastien Loeb’s taking of the 2004 FIA World Rally Championship in Corsica on Sunday has raised the stakes of December’s Race of Champions – Nations Cup at the Stade de France in Paris.
It means the year’s best rally driver will, alongside ex-F1 driver Jean Alesi, now join the year’s best racing driver -- F1 champion Michael Schumacher -- in a unique showdown to help settle the argument of who is the world’s best driver. They'll be driving Peugeot and Citroen rally cars, as well as cars from the Ferrari Modena Challenge.
"I think most of the fans will come to see Michael, not me," joked the modest new world champion. "But I will do my best to beat him. I hope there are lots of French fans there. It is not often that rally drivers and racing drivers get a chance to compete against each other, and on a neutral track. It will make a great show. Rally drivers are very adaptable because of all the surfaces we use but F1 drivers are very precise. It will be exciting."
Michael Schumacher says he is relishing the chance to meet and compete against drivers from other disciplines. In addition to Loeb, the rally world will be represented by legend Colin McRae and double world champion Marcus Gronholm and NASCAR is sending two of its most competitive drivers, champion Jeff Gordon and regular race winner Jimmie Johnson, who took his fifth victory of the season at Loewes Motorspeedway on Saturday.
"I love competing. That’s part of what keeps me going, and in the Race of Champions I like the idea of having drivers from different series driving with and against each other," said Schumacher. "Usually this is impossible for us to do. Plus it is simply nice to be able to meet those other drivers."
Loeb had already confirmed his participation in the motor sport spectacle, to be run on a two-lane circuit in the famous sports stadium before an estimated crowd of up to 60,000 fans. Becoming world champion is certain to make the evening event an even more highly-charged affair – especially in front of an enthusiastic crowd of French fans.
French spectators will also have another local hero to cheer on. Former Ferrari F1 driver and Mercedes-Benz DTM Touring Car ace Jean Alesi has been revealed as Loeb’s partner in the French team for the Nations Cup - a multinational competition for pairs of racing and rally drivers to challenge rival countries over a series of races.
"It is so exciting to be in the French team and with our new World Champion," admitted Alesi. "I think it is a strong combination, especially having Sébastien in the team.
"To perform at the Stade de France is going to be really interesting. All those fans and running the cars in a stadium. It will be unique. Fredrik Johnsson, Michèle Mouton and their team have done something really special. I can’t wait."
Alesi’s confirmation comes at the same time as that of Heikki Kovalainen, who was crowned champion of The World Series by Nissan this weekend. He will join Marcus Gronholm in the Finnish team.
Citroen, who won the manufacturer’s World Championship in Corsica at the weekend, have confirmed they will be bringing three of their winning Xsaras to the Stade de France. In addition, Peugeot will supply the same number of 307 WRCs.
Both French makes will be used by the rally drivers, while the racing drivers will compete in four identical Ferrari Modena Challenge cars prepared by the factory in Maranello. Also in the line-up will be the spectacular buggy-style RoC Cars, which set the fastest lap time at last year's RoC in Gran Canaria with Moto X wizard Travis Pastrana at the wheel.
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