Loeb And Schumacher To Go Head To Head

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LOEB AND SCHUMACHER TO GO HEAD TO HEAD FOR THE TITLE OF BEST DRIVER IN THE WORLD!

Sébastien Loeb, the most successful driver in World Rallying history, will take on Michael Schumacher and a host of top racers for the title of best driver in the world in London’s Wembley Stadium this year, after the Frenchman confirmed that he will compete in The Race of Champions 2008, which takes place on Sunday 14 December.

Having claimed his 42nd World Rally Championship victory in Rally Finland and four World Championships titles with Citroën, Loeb has won more times than any other rally driver and was recently voted the WRC’s greatest ever in a poll of almost 95,000 people on the championship’s official website.

After reaching the finals of The Race of Champions every year from 2002 to 2006 and winning the overall title of “Champion of Champions” in 2003 and 2005, Loeb is one of the favourites for victory in December this year.

“I'm very happy to come back to The Race of Champions as it's an event that I really enjoy,” Loeb said. “Last year I couldn't come because I had a very busy schedule with my baby girl Valentine being born just before the event. It will be very nice to compete against Michael [Schumacher] again like in 2004. We live very close to each other, but rarely have a chance to meet.”

“Last time we actually met was on a track racing motorcycles. Michael was a little bit faster than me, but I hope to get my revenge in identical cars at The Race of Champions.”
Although Loeb has been more successful than Schumacher in The Race of Champions, Schumacher came out on top when the two competed head-to-head in the 2004 event.

Fredrik Johnsson, President of event organisers, IMP, is delighted at Loeb’s confirmation.

“It’s fantastic to have Sébastien return to The Race of Champions after missing last year’s event. This announcement means that with him and Michael Schumacher, we now have the two most successful drivers in the history of both Formula 1 and World Rallying set to compete at Wembley.

“Sébastien’s record in the World Rally Championship is simply incredible and his two victories in The Race of Champions show that he is one of the greatest drivers in motorsport.”

In The ROC Nations Cup, Loeb will head up France’s entry as they aim to reclaim the title that they last won on home soil, at the Stade de France, in 2004. Loeb’s team-mate will be confirmed at a later date.

Tickets for the event are on sale now by calling +44 844 412 1743, or online at www.raceofchampions.com.

ENDS

Editors’Notes
The Race of Champions was started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most successful female rally driver.

The Race Of Champions event on December 14 will be made up of two separate competitions – The ROC Nations Cup and The Race of Champions.

Each competition pits drivers against each other in a head-to-head knockout format, with equal equipment ensuring races are won and lost on talent alone.

The ROC Nations Cup features drivers paired into teams based on their nationality. The teams then fight head-to-head against each other in knockout competition. Last year Team Germany (Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel) beat Team Finland (Marcus Grönholm and Heikki Kovalainen) in the final.

The Race Of Champions is a straightforward knockout competition, where 16 drivers go head-to-head until the champion is decided. In last year’s Final, Mattias Ekström beat Michael Schumacher in the third race of a best-of-three battle.

Already confirmed for The Race of Champions 2008 are:
• Seven-times F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher (Team Germany)
• Four-times World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb (Team France)
• Triple World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx (Team Autosport Great Britain)
• Double Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss (Team Australia)
• Honda Racing F1 Team race winner Jenson Button (Team Autosport Great Britain)
• Red Bull Racing F1’s Mark Webber (Team Australia)
• Toro Rosso F1 racer Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany)

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