Can You Smell What The ROC Is Cooking?
This weekend Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium played host to the 25th annual Race of Champions. With such a wide variety of motorsport disciplines worldwide it is almost impossible to compare drivers across formats, so the ROC brings the elite drivers together to thrash it out on a level playing field.
If you're unfamiliar with the concept, drivers compete in a variety of cars to really test their abilities. They compete in teams representing their country and as individuals across the weekend. This year we had the most exciting metal yet. Toys ranged from small and nimble sports cars (ROC Car, KTM X-Bow, VW Scirocco and Toyota GT 86), wide and rapid supercars (Lambo Gallardo Super Trofeo and Audi R8 LMS) as well as the frankly absurd Euro Racecar with a 5.8 litre V8 boasting 450bhp that really tested the drivers' nerves on the tight and twisty circuit.
The specially designed track allows cars to line up side by side to compete on the same stretch of tarmac without getting in each others' way. The crossover point comes in the form of a bridge, but a chicane stops the cars launching into the following corner. F*ck health and safety, we want air!
First up was the Nations Cup. Britain was represented by David Coulthard and Andy Priaulx of DTM fame, with DC letting the side down to see our hopes dashed at the first hurdle. Germany smashed it as usual, taking home their sixth consecutive title. With Sebastien Vettel and Michael Schumacher behind the wheel, that's perhaps no surprise, and the pair destroyed French duo Romain Grosjean and Sebastian Ojier.
In the individual event, Grosjean took his opportunity to prove that without other pesky drivers getting in the way, he'd be a force to be reckoned with in Formula 1. With nobody to hit, the Frenchman stormed to victory, becoming 2012's Champion of Champions. Along the way, Grosjean dispensed of Sebastien Vettel (who kissed a wall, damaging his X-Bow) and Michael Schumacher, before dominating the final against Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen.
Let's see if he can keep this momentum up in 2014. If not, we'll still be happy with his hilarious insistence of crashing like a major n00b...
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