15.12.2008 NEW ABARTH RACERS STAR IN RACE OF CHAMPIONS ACTION AT WEMBLEY STADIUM

500 ABARTH ASSETTO CORSE
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - 500 ABARTH ASSETTO CORSE
WEMBLEY STADIUM
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - 500 ABARTH ASSETTO CORSE
MICHAEL SCHUMACHER - 500 ABARTH ASSETTO CORSE

The brand new 500 Abarth Assetto Corse has warmed up in style for its new one-make championships next year by making its track debut taking part in the Race of Champions extravaganza at Wembley stadium over the weekend.

The brand new 500 Abarth Assetto Corse has warmed up in style for its new one-make championships next year by making its track debut taking part in the Race of Champions extravaganza at Wembley stadium over the weekend.

Sebastian Loeb, the five times World Rally (WRC) champion, kept his composure yesterday despite fierce pressure from fellow finalist, Britain’s David Coulthard, to become the champion of champions. The unique, annual event pitches the world’s best motorsport stars head- to-head in equal machinery on a tight and twisty, temporary tarmac track constructed atop of Wembley’s famous pitch.

With a best-of-three format for the final, Frenchman Loeb took the honours in the first race to put the pressure on the newly retired F1 driver. Coulthard responded in spectacular fashion, giving the massive British crowd hope of a home victory by piloting to victory in the second heat, driving the KTM X-Bow. With the stage set for a thrilling finale, the two driving greats turned the famous football stadium into a adrenalin-fuelled amphitheatre; slipping and sliding the purpose-built ROC Cars to a nail-biting finish with Loeb taking the honours by just 0.3 seconds.

Fresh from sealing his third ROC crown, Loeb said: “For sure, when you are on the start line, you want to win, but with this event there is not too much pressure. It’s a very tight track and you have to give everything you can. I didn’t get as much experience as some of the others, as I only did one ROC Nations Cup race, but it was a good weekend for me.” Despite finishing runner-up, Scotland’s Coulthard was still smiling: “The ROC is a totally unique event, and it’s always a pleasure to take part, even if you don’t win. I think there were some very exciting racing, and there’s nothing quite like being able to see the whole track. “It was a very entertaining afternoon for the British race fans, and I did my best to keep KTM busy by crashing a couple of their cars.”

This year’s ROC attracted 46,312 spectators despite the chilly December evening. Last year’s winner at Wembley’s inaugural staging of event, former DTM (German touring cars) champion, Mattias Ekstrom, was knocked out of the semi finals by Britain’s own Andy Priaulx. Priaulx, the three-time World Touring car (WTCC) champion, was beaten by Loeb in the semi-finals, preventing the chance of an all-British final. Other shock, early exits from the unique motorsport event came from the two-time ROC Nations Cup champions, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. Schumacher, the seven-time F1 champion, performed flawlessly in the earlier Nations Cup events to regain the title for Germany, but was knocked out of the first round of the driver’s event after a mistake. Britain’s other hopes for success ended early, as Formula 1 driver, Jenson Button, and British Touring car (BTCC) ace, Jason Plato were knocked out of the first round.

Meanwhile, prior to Loeb's final victory, Team Germany retained their title in The Race Of Champions Nations Cup at Wembley Stadium. The reunited pairing of seven-time F1 champion, Michael Schumacher, and F1’s youngest ever race winner, Sebastian Vettel, never looked troubled as they powered undefeated through the heat events before beating Team Scandinavia in the final.

Taking the fight to the victorious German duo was the Team Scandinavia pairing of Le Mans 24 hour winner, Tom Kristensen and former German touring car (DTM) champion, Mattias Ekstrom. With the narrow and technical circuit suffering from overnight rain, spectators were treated some of the best machine control as the fiercely competitive drivers pushed a selection of race cars through their paces. With the host nation allowed to field two teams, the UK’s star-studded offerings of Team F1 Great Britain, with David Coulthard and Jenson Button, and Team Autosport Great Britain, with three-time World Touring car champion (WTCC), Andy Priaulx, and British Touring Car (BTCC) ace, Jason Plato, lasted as long as the semi finals.
 

© 2008 Interfuture Media/Italiaspeed