This year, Sebastian Vettel walked away with the Champion of Champions (COC) title at the 2015 Race of Champions (ROC) event in London, beating out 19 fellow motorsport stars in order to do so. The ROC Nations Cup meanwhile, went to England, a title that Vettel had won six times together with Michael Schumacher as his partner from 2007 to 2012.
For the uninitiated, the ROC is an international motorsport event that is held near the end of each year, featuring some of the world’s best drivers from a wide range of disciplines including Formula One, WRC, IndyCar, NASCAR and touring cars. What’s the purpose of such an event?
Consider this. Tennis, golf, badminton and squash are sports that only has a singular “Number One Player” in the world. Motorsports is a bit more complex because you have a Formula 1 champion, a WRC champion, Le Mans champion and the list goes on. To settle the continuous debate of “who’s the best driver” is what the ROC is here to do.
This year, the list of 20 participants are as star-studded as in previous iterations of the event. As Schumacher is still recovering from a previous accident, Vettel partnered with reigning Le Mans winner and fellow F1 driver Nico Hülkenberg for Germany. Another F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo and former motorcycle champion Mick Doohan represented Australia.
Felipe Massa (F1) and Nelson Piquet Jr (Formula E champion) raced under the Brazilian flag, Mr Le Mans Tom Kristensen and Peter Solberg (rally) paired up for Scandinavia, Americas by Ryan Hunter-Reay (IndyCar) and Jose Maria Lopez (touring car), Scotland by David Coulthard (former F1) and Susie Wollf (F1 test driver).
England meanwhile, was represented by two teams with touring car champions Jason Plato and Andy Priaulx in one team, and the other by Jenson Button (F1) and Alex Buncombe (endurance racing). An All-Stars team that includes Romain Grosjean (F1 and 2012 COC winner) and six-time Olympic cycling gold-medalist Chris Hoy was also part of the line-up. The final Young Stars team consists of Joylon Palmer and Pascal Wehrlein.
The ROC is based on a knockout tournament format, with participants facing off in a variety of vehicles. This year’s arsenal include the Mercedes-AMG GT, Ariel Atom, Radical SR3, KTM X-Bow, the ROC Car (custom made racing buggy) and European NASCARs.
After battling his way through the various stages, Sebastian Vettel managed to overcome last year’s champion David Coulthard to set up a finale with Tom Kristensen, who took down Alex Buncombe in the semi-finals. With both drivers piloting the KTM X-Bow, it was Vettel who managed to clinch victory in his very first Race Of Champions Grand Final. Andy Priaulx and Jason Plato meanwhile, took home the Nations Cup for England.
There you have it, Sebastian Vettel is the this year’s “World’s Greatest Driver.” However, we do understand if you have differing opinions on this, what with 2015 Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton being absent from this year’s ROC. Let us know who you think deserves such a title in the comments below.
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Surprised Merc didn’t put Blessed Lewis and the Childish Rosberg in this race. It would be some fun watching them go especially both teamed up in the same car.
You got it all wrong. The best driver is the ah beng with his godcar that can cilok in jam road that within 10 minutes, he is so far ahead it will take you crawling another 40 mins just to reach his point.
You wanna doubt me, go ask Sam Loo. He will tell you godcar is god, jangan persoal, and the drivers have privilege on the roads, jangan persoal.
Just an accuse to unwind and play with expensive toys
What about Sebastian Loeb… and the Stig?