The Race Of Champions has introduced the primary 4 drivers for its inaugural New Zealand occasion, happening at Wellington’s Hnry Stadium on 9-10 January 2027.
The lineup might be spearheaded by four-time System 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who has taken half in all however two Race Of Champions occasions since 2007. The German gained the Nations’ Cup six years in a row, from 2007 to 2012, alongside Michael Schumacher, and in 2017 with Pascal Wehrlein; he additionally triumphed in the principle contest in London in 2015.
“Earlier than ROC Sydney I went for a primary fast go to to New Zealand and was blown away by the great thing about the nation, so I informed the organisers jokingly, ‘Are you able to please deliver the following ROC to New Zealand?’,” Vettel mentioned. “I’m actually wanting ahead to competing in opposition to so many different champions from throughout the globe on the Race Of Champions in Wellington in January, and getting an opportunity to go to extra of New Zealand.”
A present F1 driver has additionally been introduced in Valtteri Bottas; the 10-time grand prix winner, now racing for backmarker Cadillac, will participate within the occasion for simply the third time.
Hayden Paddon, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Hyundai
Different collection can even be represented with 2025 Supercars champion Chaz Mostert, who made his Race Of Champions debut final day out that very same yr in Australia, and New Zealand star Hayden Paddon, a one-time WRC rally winner.
“It’s superb to see one of many world’s most spectacular motorsport occasions come to New Zealand for the primary time ever,” Paddon mentioned. “New Zealand is de facto in a golden age of motorsport in the intervening time throughout so many disciplines, and I can’t consider a extra becoming celebration of this than internet hosting the Race Of Champions, that pulls so most of the greatest stars from all world wide.
“That is actually a once-in-a-lifetime alternative for Kiwi motorsport followers to rise up shut and private with drivers from F1, WRC, circuit and different motorsport varieties, all battling it out in equal equipment inside one in all New Zealand’s most well-known sports activities stadiums. It’s actually a historic occasion for therefore many causes, and I’m personally extremely proud to be part of it.”
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