15/11/2006
NEWS STORY
Touring car experts Bernd Schneider from Germany and England's Andy Priaulx are the latest motor sport stars to have confirmed their participation in the 2006 Race of Champions – Nations Cup alongside an exciting list of other bill-topping names* from world class rallying and single-seater racing.
Bernd Schneider, 42, who recently claimed his fifth title in the highly competitive DTM, will be competing in Paris for the second year and is hoping to build on his experience of the 2005 event.
"I was obviously very proud to win my fifth DTM title and after the last race at Hockenheim," says the Mercedes driver. "My next big target now is The Race of Champions in Paris. Last year was my first participation in ROC and I have to say I was very impressed by the atmosphere in the stadium. With one year's experience behind me and a little more practice, I'm aiming for a better result than in 2005, both for myself and for the German team together with Armin Schwarz."
For fellow touring car ace Andy Priaulx, this will be his first taste of this unique annual showdown that brings top motor sport superstars together in a single arena at the wheel of identical cars.
The 2005 WTCC Champion is currently one of nine drivers still in the hunt for this year's crown when the series ends next weekend in Macau and he is looking forward to joining forces with English Formula 1 driver Jenson Button in his country's Nations Cup line-up at the Stade de France.
"The chance to take part in this year’s ROC Nations cup was something I jumped at as I have watched it in the past and reckoned it would be a lot of fun," says 32-year old Priaulx. "I have already raced with my national flag on the car in the FIA WTCC, so to be able to represent England alongside Jenson Button was an opportunity I just couldn’t turn down. I know I shall be pitted against many motor racing heroes, but this gives me a great opportunity in a totally different kind of motor sport environment and I am confident that the English team can give our fans something to cheer about."