ROC welcomes 2014 World Rallycross Champion Solberg
- Newly-crowned FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg will compete at the 2014 Race Of Champions in Barbados
- Solberg has dominated this year’s inaugural championship with four victories, sealing the title last week with two rounds to spare
- The Norwegian joins greats from Le Mans, IndyCar, V8 Supercar and F1 in the ROC field, with many more big names on their way
- Tickets are now available for ROC 2014, which will take place at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados on December 13-14
Newly-crowned FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg is the latest driver to sign up for the 2014 Race Of Champions, to be held at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados on December 13-14.
Solberg has taken four wins already in this year’s inaugural championship – and third place at Italy’s Franciacorta track last week was enough for him to seal the title with two rounds remaining. The Norwegian also won the 2003 World Rally Championship so he has now secured his place in the driving elite by reaching the top of the world in two different fields of motor sport.
This year’s success comes as no surprise as Solberg began his career in rallycross, inspired by his parents who were both keen autocross drivers. Petter went on to win two Norwegian national titles before switching to rallying. He enjoyed four finishes in the WRC top two with Subaru machinery – including his 2003 title – before spending four years running his own team, amassing over 50 WRC podiums overall.
Such a blend of ability – coupled with his recent experience of the exciting all-action short-track racing that makes up rallycross – is sure to stand Solberg in good stead as he bids for more glory at the 2014 Race Of Champions. His last appearance came at Wembley in 2007 when he partnered his brother Henning to the ROC Nations Cup semi-finals for Team Norway.
Now Solberg joins a ROC line-up featuring stars from all over the world: nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen, Formula 1’s Romain Grosjean (the reigning ROC Champion of Champions), Australian V8 Supercar legend Jamie Whincup and this year’s Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay have already signed up. The rest of the ROC 2014 field will be announced in the run-up to December’s event.
Solberg said: “Ever since I got back last week it’s been absolutely crazy in Norway and Sweden. I’ve been flat out every day but it’s no problem when you win – and I’ve now made history as the first driver to win the FIA World Rallycross Championship so I couldn’t be happier. I worked so hard for this thing but if nobody else can help me to be a world champion, I’ll do it myself. That’s what we have done.
“Doing a 60km rally stage is no problem but four laps on a rallycross track with all the other crazy people around you is like a heart attack. So I really hope that experience can help at the Race Of Champions because I want to give it a proper shot and fight hard to win in Barbados. There are a lot of good drivers who I respect very much, but it doesn’t matter who it is. When I do things I want to do them 110 percent. I also like to attack so I’ll put on a good show for the spectators anyway…”
ROC organiser Fredrik Johnsson added: “It’s great to have Petter back with us at the Race Of Champions again. He was always one of the most exciting drivers during his long career in the World Rally Championship and his domination of the first ever FIA World Rallycross Championship shows he is still at the very top of his game.
“There are definite similarities between rallycross and the Race Of Champions when it comes to relentless high-speed twists and turns on a short circuit. So it will be very interesting to see if Petter can carry his form over to our own intense brand of racing. He’ll be facing some of the best drivers from all over the world but no doubt he’ll push as hard as ever for another win in December. What’s certain is that his exciting style will entertain the big crowds at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados.”
The Race Of Champions, which has been held for over 25 years, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, World Rally, Le Mans, MotoGP, Nascar, IndyCar, Touring Cars and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a unique tarmac track with two parallel lanes linked by a crossover bridge.
Tickets for ROC 2014 are available at www.bushyparkcircuitinc.com/roc-tickets while media accreditation details will be released soon. For further information and access to high-resolution imagery please visit www.raceofchampions.com. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook or @raceofchampions on Twitter.
