Formula One news

Vettel and Schumacher join Race of Champions

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher have been confirmed to take part in this year's Race of Champions. Having been held in London's Wembley stadium for the last two years, the event will move to China in 2009 and the Bird's Nest, home of last year's Summer Olympic Games.

Schumacher will once again be present at the competition this year, joined by Red Bull Racing's Vettel, as the duo again join forces to provide Germany's challenge for victory in the Nations Cup for what would be the third straight year.

Sebastian Vettel in the action, driving in his second Race of Champions at Wembley in 2008

"The Race of Champions is always big fun to compete in," said seven-time World Champion Schumacher who, like the rest of the competitors, will also be taking part in individual races at the wheels of a selection of cars, attempting to finally take the crown after missing out in the final on two separate occasions in the past. "It's the perfect combination of fighting on track and, at the same time, having fun together and this comes across to the audience - the spectators feel this special atmosphere and ultimately enjoy themselves as much as we do.

"I'm really looking forward to joining in again this year and am curious to see how the Chinese spectators will react to our crazy show on the track in the famous and beautiful Olympic Stadium. I'm sure they will love an event that has been entertaining European motorsport crowds for over 20 years." Michael is also keen to note that the show will help to raise money and awareness for ICM, the establishment specialising in superior investigation of brain and spinal cord disorders.

For the first time in history, 2009's event will be taking place on weekdays as Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 November are the dates for diaries, shortly after the inaugural and season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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