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Motorsport
Preview: The Race of Champions 2015
The end of year finale is coming to London. Here are the contenders... and the cars
The Race of Champions returns to the UK for the first time since 2008 next week, with the capital’s Olympic Stadium shedding its running track for a much asphaltier (and therefore better) racing circuit.
18 drivers from across the world of motorsport have been confirmed on the bill, with more on the way as the first of two days’ competition approaches.
As ever two titles will be up for grabs: the Nations Cup, which sees the drivers paired off into teams; and the Race of Champions proper, where it’s every driver for his or herself.
Starting on Friday 20th the contestants will also be forced to race in identical machinery, ruling out any prospect of excuses in defeat. The same cars, the same track and all eyes on the stopwatch. Who’s your money on?
The drivers in question – and the wheels they’ll be racing – are as follows...
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe drivers
Sebastian Vettel
Appearances: 6
Best Results: Nations Cup Winner (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012)
The drivers
Jenson Button
Appearances: 4
Result: Nations Cup Runner-Up (2009)
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe drivers
Tom Kristensen
Appearances: 14
Best results: Nations Cup Winner (2005, 2008, 2014)
The drivers
Petter Solberg
Appearances: 2
Best result: Nations Cup Winner (2014)
The drivers
Mick Doohan
Appearances: 4
Best Results: Nations Cup Semi-Final (2012)
The drivers
Felipe Massa
Appearances: 2
Best result: Race of Champions semi-final (2005)
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe drivers
Nelson Piquet Jr
Appearances: 1
Best result: Race of Champions Quarter-Final (2005)
The drivers
David Coulthard
Appearances: 8
Best result: Race of Champions Winner (2014)
Advertisement - Page continues belowThe drivers
Susie Wolff
Appearances: 1
Results: Nations Cup Runner-Up (2013)
The drivers
Jason Plato
Appearances: 2
Best results: Nations Cup Runner-Up (2010)
The drivers
Jorge Lorenzo
Appearances: 1
Best results: Nations Cup Semi-Final (2012)
The drivers
Romain Grosjean
Appearances: 2
Best result: Race of Champions Winner (2012)
The drivers
Ryan Hunter-Reay
Appearances: 2
Best result: Race of Champions Quarter-Final (2014)
The drivers
Jolyon Palmer
Appearances: 1
Best result: Nations Cup Group Stage (2014)
The drivers
Pascal Wehrlein
Appearances: 1
Results: Race of Champions Runner-Up (2014)
The drivers
Daniel Ricciardo
Appearances: 0
Results: Debut in 2015
The drivers
Nico Hulkenberg
Appearances: 0
Results: Debut in 2015
The drivers
Alex Buncombe
Appearances: 0
Results: Debut in 2015
The cars
Mercedes-AMG GT S
0-62mph: 3.8s
Top speed: 193mph
Power: 510bhp
Weight: 1570kg
The cars
Ariel Atom Cup
0-62mph: 2.9s
Top speed: 145mph
Power: 250bhp
Weight: 550kg
The cars
Radical SR3 RSX
0-62mph: 3.1s
Top speed: 155mph
Power: 210bhp
Weight: 570kg
The cars
ROC Car
0-62mph: 2.9s
Top speed: 118mph
Power: 170bhp
Weight: 475kg
The cars
KTM X-Bow
0-62mph: 3.9s
Top speed: 144mph
Power: 239bhp
Weight: 790kg
The cars
Euro NASCAR
0-62mph: 3.2s
Top speed: 152mph
Power: 449bhp
Weight: 1210kg
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