In a survey conducted immediately after last December's 2004 Race of Champions – Nations Cup, 89% of the 62,000 spectators present at the Stade de France said they had every intention of returning to the Paris stadium to watch the 2005 event (Saturday December 3). And clearly, as details of this year's glittering cast of motorsport superstars are confirmed, they are in for yet another thrilling show…
"An exciting list of world class drivers from Formula 1, World Rally, Nascar and other top class disciplines have already pledged to challenge for this year's Race of Champions title," says Fredrik Johnsson, President of event organiser IMP. "Many other champions are expected to confirm their presence in the next few weeks."
For a start, both of last year's finalists Sébastien Loeb and Heikki Kovalainen will be back. Their memorable clash last December saw the 2005 GP2 pace-setter beat the reigning World Rally Champion in three heats shortly after stunning the Paris crowd by eliminating seven-times F1 champ Michael Schumacher.
Loeb will clearly be looking for revenge this time round. But he will be equally determined to keep the coveted Nations Cup trophy in France following his victory in last year's competition paired with DTM racer, Jean Alesi. Indeed, the rally champion will once again be joining forces in 2005 with the former F1 driver in front of home fans.
"I hope we can repeat our win in the Nations Cup. And this time I also want to win the Race of Champions itself…" warns Loeb, who has an excellent chance of claiming his second consecutive World Rally Championship title this weekend in Japan. "I really do enjoy this formula which sees top names from very different disciplines compete in an event which has its own special flavour. Another reason I look forward to the Race of Champions is because it's one of the few opportunities I get to compete in front of my French fans."
The Frenchman is his country's most popular motor sport hero today and December's ROC-Nations Cup will effectively be the ideal opportunity for his home fans to show their appreciation for his outstanding 2005 season. Up to but not including Rally Japan, he has scored no fewer than eight outright WRC wins, including a record-breaking run of six consecutive wins between April and July! As last year, Kovalainen will be joined in the Team Finland line-up by Loeb's World Rally Championship archrival Marcus Grönholm, himself a two-times World Champion and a former Race of Champions winner (2002).
"My Champion of Champions title in 2004 has had a lot of repercussions," enthuses Heikki who is attempting to secure the title in the inaugural GP2 race series this week in Bahrain. "People are always talking to me about it and ask me to tell them about the race. Even in the USA! At this year's Indianapolis GP, the Americans recognised me and congratulated me on beating Michael! This year, I am going to Paris to win again."
Other fully confirmed national squads include Team Autosport GB – which features the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 driver David Coulthard (13 GP wins) and former world rally champ Colin McRae – as well as the United States line-up of four-times Nascar Champion Jeff Gordon and X-Games superstar Travis Pastrana.
The British pair – both Scots – will be eager to make amends for their early elimination from the 2004 Nations Cup and have already planned a special preparation programme aimed notably at helping F1 racer Coulthard grasp the niceties of mastering the spectacular 170hp/475kg ROC Buggies with tips from McRae, a four-times Race of Champions finalist.
Meanwhile, the USA delegation has plenty of exciting appeal, in more ways than one. For not only will Nascar expert Jeff Gordon be determined to take the Nations Cup trophy back across the Atlantic for the second time since 2002, but he has also joined forces with five-times X-Games Champion Travis Pastrana who, in addition to showing off his talent on four wheels, will give French spectators a chance to see him perform in an electrifying two-wheel freestyle exhibition, including the American's trademark back flip guaranteed to bring the Paris crowd to its feet!
"I hate that I missed last year's Race of Champions, but I'm really looking forward to participating in this year's event," says Gordon, driver of the N°24 DuPont Chevrolet in the Nascar Nextel Cup series. "Travis and I want to bring the Nations Cup back to the USA, and his recent experience in rally cars [American Rally Championship] can only help us."
