Race of Champions preview and video

By Richard Aucock

Motor Shows

13 December 2007 10:00

The Race of Champions is the annual end-of-season jamboree. Two drivers from eight nations all go head-to-head, on two parallel 1km tracks, in a series of identical cars, to be eliminated via group stages to determine, in two hours, an overall winner. The fastest of the fast. All before your very eyes.

Where else, but a football stadium. For the past few years it’s been the Stade de France, but this year it’s coming to Britain for the first time. To Wembley, one of the biggest stadiums in Europe. And on Sunday 16 December, the world’s media, 75,000 fans – oh, and the fastest drivers there is – will all follow. RoC on.

Sure is, constructed from 1800 tonnes of asphalt, laid atop 2200 tonnes of steel underlay plates. It took 50 people five days to do it, too (we’ll pass their names onto the contractors widening the M1). They’ll have it up in three days as well – fortunately, new grass for Wembley is being grown as we speak.

With advertising hoardings, marshal posts and a start-finish line, it’s unnervingly real, and an incredible spectacle as you emerge into the massive Wembley arena for the first time. The view you have is like no view you’ve ever had before. No conventional track beats it. Noise? Wembley acoustics means it will be to die for.

By Richard Aucock