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Race of Champions

Ekstrom beats Schumacher to The Race of Champions title

Reigning Champion of Champions Mattias Ekstroem pulled off the seemingly impossible at Wembley Stadium yesterday(Sunday), beating the ever-dominant Michael Schumacher in The Race of Champions final.

Taking the battle down to the wire, both motorsport heavy-weights claimed one win each in the best-of-three final. As thousands of fans held their breath, the last heat saw Ekstroem build up a small lead over Schumacher who pulled out all the stops to respond. It was not to be however, as the German spun his car in a dash for the chequered flag.

England fans cheered on local hero Andy Priaulx all the way to the semi-finals whilst Jenson Button lost out to an unwavering Schumacher in their second England versus Germany come-together of the day, after the earlier ROC Nations Cup.

Heikki Kovalainen provided crowds with plenty of entertainment as he reaped revenge on Sebastian Vettel, beating the German F1 Driver to even the scores after Vettel's victory over the Finn in The ROC Nations Cup finals.

Kovalainen's victory was short lived however as the newly-signed McLaren F1 driver lost control of his car on the start/finish line in spectacular fashion during the next round against Priaulx, crashing the Aston Martin into the middle barriers.

Two-time DTM Champion Mattias Ekstroem:  "I didn't start off very good but it's turned out to be a nice event. At the end of the day everybody wants to win The ROC. To come here in front of all the spectators to this nice event, for me I really enjoy it every time.  "I wouldn't say it's that easy, whether it's seven-time Formula 1 Champion or four-time Touring Car Champion, all of the drivers are very good. If you get your rhythm going, any one of them could win. "The track layout was a bit more technical this time after France last year. The first turn on the outside was really demanding."

Seven-time F1 World Champion Michael Schumacher : "It has been truly quite a thrill! I've been here twice, and twice it has been a big pleasure. I wasn't so good in the Solution F; there is something with me where I need to see my wheels! I'm no good if I don't see them, I have been very bad in saloon cars in the past.  We came here to enjoy ourselves, to be here for a good reason: for the ICM charity and finally to race. We do this as good as we can and sometimes one is better than the others. We can all live with this because it's not a championship so there's no pressure.  

"This is my first time racing after my retirement. In previous years if you race F1 you have a lot of pressure. You are determined and focused and at one stage, at this time of year, I just liked to switch off. In 2004 I could do it but normally after a season I'm just empty by the end of the year. Now it's different so I'm open for fun events such as this. I hope I get an invitation next year!"

Team Germany wins The ROC Nations Cup

Fans at Wembley Stadium witnessed history in the making today as Team Germany, with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, claimed The ROC Nations Cup for the first time in the history of The Race of Champions.

Some of motorsport's best drivers gave the crowd plenty to cheer for as they fought relentlessly over two hours, some pushing the limits to the very extreme like Mattias Ekstroem and Travis Pastrana who both had close shaves with the concrete barriers.

England versus Germany at Wembley brought the crowd to fever pitch, re-enacting every football fans' nightmare with the German pair knocking out local heroes Jenson Botton and Andy Priaulx.

Every heat was breath-takingly close but none more so than in the Team Germany versus Team Finland final when Schumacher, having stalled on the start line, found himself having to drive defensively with last year's winner Heikki Kovalainen only centimeters behind.

Spectators were on their feet as the two F1 drivers fought each other, racing bumper-to-bumper on the same half of the innovative parallel track, before Kovalainen overtook the seven-time World Champion to the delight of cheering fans.

With one more round to go, both teams were tied and it was Schumacher's young team-mate Vettel that claimed the decisive win against Kovalainen.

Seven-time Champion Michael Schumacher (Team Germany) :

"In the first heat of the final I just stalled the car and that was it! Then I was waiting for Heikki to come back round so at least we could have some fun. I knew I could rely on Sebastian! Actually it turned out really good; the two young ones could fight whilst the two retired drivers could relax!

"There weren't any balls or any goals so it was a little bit easy for us to win at Wembley today."

Scuderia Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel (Team Germany)

"I didn't expect that. I had a strong team-mate in the beginning when I needed help. After that it was quite good. We had the draw against England, which was spectacular. The crowd was alive! I raced against Marcus in his own car; so almost like in his living room! I was already putting together all my excuses; I didn't expect to win at all!

"I asked David Coulthard what to do in preparation for this. He said you are not allowed to come to the event not drunk… fortunately I didn't' follow his advice."

McLaren F1's Heikki Kovalainen (Team Finland)

"Michael had a problem at the start so I thought let's have some fun for the crowds. I don't think he expected me to overtake him. It was just a bit of fun!

"I think he could have easily blocked me. After I got past him, I was just holding my handbrake and keeping full throttle to give the crowd something for their cameras.

"I had no more to give today with that car. I didn't make a mistake until the second to last corner. Sebastian drove really well, that's all I can say! I'm now against him in the first heat for the main race, that's going to be a difficult one."

Double World Rally Champion, Marcus Groenholm (Team Finland)

"I was a little bit too confident against Sebastian. On the start line I thought it would be easy for me but no. He didn't make any mistakes and he was very fast so that was a mistake from me."