The car was given its first ROC run at the track test for the 2011 event, whichtook place this week at the Düsseldorf venue (see pictures here). The circuit layout, which has undergoneonly minor changes since last year’s successful event, was set up on tarmacnext to the stadium. The drivers in action were ROC co-founder and former worldrally driver Michèle Mouton, German racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck and ROCrace director Marc Duez (pictured alongside race organiser Fredrik Johnsson andPatrik Meyer of German race promoter TSP).
Duez, who carried out the debut ROC track test in the 270bhp, four-wheel driveSkoda, declared: ”It goes without saying that driving this agile rally carwas great fun for me, but the crowds will also love the Skoda Fabia Super 2000.They will have the chance to see a top rally car that is virtually tailor-madefor circuits like this, so it will have what it takes to deliver to the max.”
The drivers in action agreed that the track, which will be built inside thestadium itself early in December, will guarantee a spectacular show. Mouton,who designed the layout of the circuit in her role as ROC track director,confirmed that it had passed its first litmus test, adding: ”The track has beenonly slightly modified since last year so it will again provide the perfectsetting for a spectacular show. That means ROC’s fans can look forward toanother two days packed with thrilling action, with the best drivers of theworld battling it out face to face at the wheel of a range of differentmachinery – including the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 which we used this week tocomplete the first ROC mileage of the year.”
The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season competition that brings togetherthe world’s greatest drivers from all motor sport’s disciplines – includingFormula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans and NASCAR – and sets them freeto battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a specially constructedparallel track. Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduledfor Saturday 3 December, before the individual Race Of Champions takes place onSunday 4 December.
Of course, as ever the competing drivers will have to show off their skills ina wide range of machinery – with Skoda’s challenger the latest asset in whatwill be an impressive fleet. ROC 2011 will indeed feature four-wheel drive,front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive competition cars.
Five drivers have been confirmed so far for ROC 2011, including F1 worldchampions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button. Plenty morebig names will be added in the run-up to the event at Düsseldorf in December.For information about tickets (starting from €19) please visit the website www.raceofchampions.com.
Drivers alreadyconfirmed for the 2011 Race Of Champions:
· Sebastian VETTEL, Reigning Formula 1 World Champion
· Michael SCHUMACHER, Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
· Mattias EKSTROM, DTM star and triple ROC Champion of Champions
· Andy PRIAULX, Three-time World Touring Car Champion
Jenson BUTTON, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion
