Sébastien Loeb signs up for 2010 Race of Champions

Rally great Sébastien Loeb has joined the line-up for the 2010 Race of Champions, to be held at Düsseldorf’s ESPRIT arena on November 27-28.

The annual end-of-season competition brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s most prestigious disciplines and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery. Now Loeb has signed up for this year’s event, joining a driver roll call that already includes seven-time Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher, 2010 F1 title contender Sebastian Vettel and four-time F1 world champion Alain Prost.

Loeb and Prost, the two greatest names in French motor sport history, will line up for Team France in the 2010 ROC Nations Cup, making a formidable partnership. Loeb helped France to the ROC Nations Cup once before, alongside Jean Alesi in 2004.

Loeb said: “What makes The Race of Champions exciting is that it’s the only event where you have to compete against drivers from different disciplines. You also have to adapt very quickly to each type of car and it’s just a question of feeling. I’m delighted to be racing with Alain, who is a driver I admire for what he has achieved in his career. I think we make up a good Team France so I’m sure we can work well together in the ROC Nations Cup. I know teams like Germany are always strong but for sure we’ll try everything to win it.”

Loeb also has an admirable record in The Race of Champions, having reached the individual final on each of his six visits so far. He has been crowned ‘Champion of Champions’ three times in total, most recently defeating David Coulthard at Wembley in 2008 (see above).

He added: “The Race of Champions is more for fun, no pressure. But I always want to win so when I take the start of any race I just go for it and try to win…”

The Race of Champions has been staged every year since 1988, founded by IMP President Fredrik Johnsson and Michèle Mouton, the world’s most successful female rally driver. This year’s event will again take place on a specially constructed tarmac circuit with two parallel lanes winding their way round Düsseldorf’s ESPRIT arena.

Johnsson said: “We’re delighted that Sébastien will be returning to The Race of Champions in November. With over 50 rally victories to his name, he is one of the all-time legends of sport on four wheels – and his record at The Race of Champions is similarly impressive.”

More star drivers will be announced as the countdown to the 2010 Race of Champions continues in the run-up to the big weekend in Düsseldorf on November 27-28.