Some of the biggest names in motorsport are heading Down Under next year when Sydney’s Accor Stadium hosts long-standing stadium event the Race of Champions.
The annual event, occurring in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time, will see a 950m circuit built inside the Homebush venue over two nights in early March, allowing fans to watch the entire race without leaving their seat.
Countries will battle each other in the ROC Nations Cup on March 7 before the individual competition on March 8.
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The event, billed as a battle between F1, IndyCar, Le Mans, World Rally and Rally X legends, has previously been hosted at Paris’ Stade de France in 2004, London’s Wembley Stadium in 2008 and Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in 2009.
The list of former competitors includes Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Jensen Button, David Coulthard, Felipe Massa, Lando Norris, Esteban Ocon, Pierre Gasly and Daniel Ricciardo.
Next year’s Race of Champions takes place a week before the Australian Grand Prix, opening the door for Formula 1 drivers to participate, while Daniel Ricciardo would be a target for organisers.
Ricciardo has competed in the event before, taking his place in the 2015 event in London, while he could be available having not locked in his plans for 2025.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Race Of Champions to Australia for the first time ever,” Race of Champions President and Co-Founder Fredrik Johnsson said in a statement.
“ROC has always been about pushing drivers to their limits in unique conditions.
“Australia has a rich motorsport heritage, and we’re looking forward to celebrating that by pitting some of the best Australian drivers against some of the world’s most legendary racing stars in a spectacular showdown in the middle of Accor Stadium.”
The Australian team will be led by seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, who is set to race in this weekend’s Bathurst 1000.
“I had a great time competing at the Race of Champions World Finals in Bangkok and Barbados,” Whincup said in a statement.
“I’m thrilled to be part of the ROC driver line up again in 2025, especially with the event being hosted in Sydney.
“Competing alongside some of the best drivers in the world from so many different racing series is always an incredible challenge and representing Australian motorsport on home soil now that ROC comes to Australia for the first time makes it even more special.
“I can’t wait to get out there and give it everything for the Aussie fans.”
