ROC: Audi R8 LMS ultra results at Sunday's Race Of Champions in Barbados

By Johan Laubscher

The Race Of Champions took place at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados this weekend. The ROC Nations Cup got the weekend underway on Saturday and it was victory for the Nordic team with Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg.

Sunday saw the feature event taking place in Barbados, the Race Of Champions with sixteen world class drivers facing off for individual victory. In the end it was victory for David Coulthard, ahead of Pascal Wehrlein.

The Audi R8 LMS ultra was among the cars selected for ROC 2014. Below we have included a run-down of all the race results where the R8 LMS ultra cars were used during the Race Of Champions on Sunday.

The full Race of Champions results can be seen HERE.

A total of four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were used during this weekend's events. Previously only the older Audi R8 LMS models had been used for the ROC events, but this year was the ROC debut of the newer Audi R8 LMS ultra variant. These Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were in the 2013 aerodynamic specification.

Photo credit: Race Of Champions

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ROC: Audi R8 LMS ultra results at Saturday's ROC Nations Cup in Barbados

By Johan Laubscher

The Race Of Champions took place at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados this past weekend. The ROC Nations Cup got the weekend’s proceedings underway on Saturday, where the drivers competed in pairs based on nationality.

In the end it was the Nordic team that was victorious with Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg.

The Audi R8 LMS ultra was among the cars selected for ROC 2014. Below we have included a run-down of all the race results where the R8 LMS ultra cars were used during the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday.

The full ROC Nations Cup results can be seen HERE.

A total of four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were used during this weekend's events. Previously only the older Audi R8 LMS models had been used for the ROC events, but this year was the ROC debut of the newer Audi R8 LMS ultra variant. These Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were in the 2013 aerodynamic specification.

Photo credit: Race Of Champions

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ROC: Team Nordic win the ROC Nations Cup with Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg

Race Of Champions Press Release

Team Nordic’s Tom Kristensen and Petter Solberg are celebrating after they took a stunning victory in the 2014 ROC Nations Cup at Bushy Park Barbados.

On a hot afternoon in the Caribbean, legends from many of the world’s biggest motor sport series teamed up in pairs to battle for national and regional pride. They raced a mix of cars – including the Ariel Atom Cup, Audi R8 LMS, Stadium Super Truck, VW Polo RX, KTM X-Bow, ROC Car and Euro NASCAR – on a purpose-built parallel track at Bushy Park Barbados.

Before the racing the drivers unfurled a banner in conjunction with the institute for advanced research into brain and spinal cord injuries ICM in honour of ROC’s absent friend Michael Schumacher as he continues his recovery from his skiing accident. Michael and fellow countryman Sebastian Vettel had won a record six consecutive ROC Nations Cup titles prior to today’s action.

But what an afternoon of action it was – as Le Mans legend Kristensen and FIA World Rallycross Champion Solberg prevailed in the final against Team Scotland. First Kristensen defeated Williams F1 official test driver Susie Wolff, then 13-time F1 grand prix winner David Coulthard won out against Solberg to take it to the decider. But Kristensen came out on top in the end, winning the final heat after Coulthard spun off at the final corner (see picture below).

Host nation Team Barbados (Dane Skeete and Rhett Watson) delighted the home fans with a magnificent ROC Nations Cup debut, making it through to the semi-final before they were beaten by Team Scotland. Skeete kept the crowd on the edge of their seats by defeating Wolff but Coulthard came out on top in the end with two wins.

Even more success lay ahead for Team Barbados as they went on to win the inaugural ROC Caribbean, beating Team Jamaica in the final after seeing off Team Guyana and Team Trinidad & Tobago in the group stages.

In the other ROC Nations Cup semi-final Team Nordic beat Team France pair Romain Grosjean and Esteban Ocon by two heats to one. Kristensen and Grosjean both won their original heats but the Dane avenged his defeat in the 2012 individual Race Of Champions final to take his team through.

Earlier in the afternoon, Team Nordic (four wins) and Team France (three wins) both progressed through the round-robin Group A to reach the semi-finals. Team Young Stars were only eliminated on countback of fastest lap time after they joined Team France on three group wins – two for Mercedes F1 reserve driver Pascal Wehrlein and one for GP2 Champion Jolyon Palmer.

Team Americas were also knocked out despite seven-time off-road champion Robby Gordon’s two wins. But World Touring Car Champion José-Maria ‘Pechito’ López did give the crowd some memorable early entertainment as he rolled one of team-mate Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks.

Team Scotland topped Group B with five wins out of six – three for Coulthard and two for Wolff. Team Barbados joined them in the semi-finals, knocking out Team USA on fastest lap time after both finished on three wins. 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner Ryan Hunter-Reay took two wins and NASCAR champion Kurt Busch one win but it was not enough. Team Australia’s five-time MotoGP world champion Mick Doohan and six-time V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup also went out despite Whincup’s late consolation victory.

Photo credit: Race Of Champions

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ROC: Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars ready to debut at Race Of Champions Barbados

By Johan Laubscher

The 2014 Race Of Champions will be taking place at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados from 13-14 December.

Preparations for the event are in full swing on site at Bushy Park. Two weeks ago it was announced that Audi GT3 machinery had once again been selected to be one of the ROC car choices for the fifth consecutive year.

The first photos are beginning to appear online and these have revealed that four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars will be used during this up coming weekend's event. Previously only the older Audi R8 LMS models had been used for the ROC events, but this year will see the ROC debut of the newer Audi R8 LMS ultra variant. These Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are in the 2013 specification.

First up will be the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday and then the Race of Champions on Sunday, which will see multiple world class drivers taking part, including Mr Le Mans Tom Kristensen.

Photo credit: Race Of Champions Barbados

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ROC: Audi R8 LMS part of Race Of Champions Barbados line-up

By Johan Laubscher

The 2014 Race of Champions will be taking place from 13-14 December 2014 at the Bushy Park circuit in Barbados.

The event uses a large selection of different cars with the drivers facing off in identical pairings of vehicles during the heats, with the choice of car pairings alternating during the heats. ROC is staggering the announcement of which cars will be taking part in the event this year, announcing them one-by-one during the three weeks leading up to the event. So far only two cars have been announced. First off the Ariel Atom Cup and then secondly, announced on Friday and making its return to ROC, the Audi R8 LMS.

2014 marks the fifth consecutive year that the Audi R8 LMS has been chosen to be part of the Race of Champions car line-up. The first appearance of the Audi GT3 machine was at ROC 2010 and it has been seen as the most powerful car in each year’s line-up since then.

The Audi R8 LMS always provided very exciting racing on the short temporary stadium figure-of-eight courses.

ROC 2014 will be a very exciting event in two weeks time. The driving list also includes non-other than Mr Le Mans, Tom Kristensen.

Photo credit: Race of Champions

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ROC: Legend Stig Blomqvist to drive iconic rally car in Barbados

Race of Champions Press Release

• Crowds at next month’s Race Of Champions in Barbados are in for a treat as rally great Stig Blomqvist returns to the track
• The 1984 World Rally Champion will get behind the wheel of the classic Audi S1 rally car for a demonstration run at the Bushy Park Circuit
• This 500bhp+ beast from rallying’s classic Group B era in the Eighties can go from 0-100kmh quicker than a modern-day Formula 1 car
• The demo will accompany ROC 2014’s action featuring greats from F1, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar, NASCAR, World Rally, Rallycross and Touring Cars
• Tickets are now available via www.raceofchampions.com for ROC 2014, to be held at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados on December 13-14 

One of motor sport’s all-time greats will be at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados for ROC 2014 on December 13-14 as 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist takes to the track to show off the classic Audi Quattro S1 Group B rally car. 

An icon of rallying’s halcyon days of Group B machinery before the era was outlawed on safety grounds in 1986, this monster is made of Kevlar, has over 500bhp and can go from 0-100kmh in just 2.3 seconds, quicker even than a modern day F1 car.

Blomqvist successfully tamed these beasts, winning his home Swedish Rally a total of seven times and taking the 1984 world title for Audi. He went on to become a Race Of Champions great too, winning the second ever edition in 1989 at the Nürburgring where he defeated German ace Walter Röhrl to become Champion of Champions (see photo below). The Swede repeated the feat in Barcelona the following year and appeared in a record 15 straight Race Of Champions between 1998 and 2002.

Blomqvist’s son Tom has since followed in his father’s footsteps, taking second place in this year’s FIA European Formula 3 Championship. But on December 13-14 it will be Stig’s turn to return to the track, doubtless showing he’s still got what it takes to wow the crowds at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados.

Blomqvist Sr said: “I’ve always enjoyed the Race Of Champions – ever since its very first event in 1988 – and I’m delighted to be returning again next month. The Group B era was an amazing time for the World Rally Championship and the Audi Quattro S1 is one of its most outstanding cars. It still gives me a thrill to drive it these days and I look forward to sharing that excitement with the ROC crowd in Barbados.”

The demo will be part of a busy programme of entertainment that runs alongside the weekend’s main event, the Race Of Champions. The FMX4Ever freestyle motocross team will also be performing and even more exciting shows will be announced soon.

The Race Of Champions brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s major disciplines – including Formula 1, MotoGP, Le Mans, NASCAR, IndyCar, World Rally, Rallycross, Touring Cars, V8 Supercar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a unique track with two parallel lanes linked by a crossover bridge. Over the course of the weekend there will be over 60 individual duels between some of the world’s best racers.

ROC organiser Fredrik Johnsson said: “There can hardly be a more legendary name in motor sport than the original ‘Stig’ himself. He has been with us as part of the Race Of Champions since the very start and he still holds our record for appearances. Now Stig no longer competes in our main event but to watch him pushing the Audi S1 car to the limit around our parallel track is a treat not to be missed. We can’t wait to see thousands of smiling faces when Stig takes to the Barbados track next month.”

Tickets for ROC 2014 are available at www.bushyparkcircuitinc.com/roc-tickets. Sign up for all the latest updates at www.raceofchampions.com, Race Of Champions on Facebook or @raceofchampions and #ROCBarbados on Twitter.

Drivers already announced for the 2014 Race Of Champions:
Tom KRISTENSEN, nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner
Romain GROSJEAN, Lotus F1 Team driver, reigning ROC Champion of Champions
Ryan HUNTER-REAY, Indianapolis 500 winner 2014, IndyCar Champion 2012
Jamie WHINCUP, V8 Supercar Champion 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008
Petter SOLBERG, FIA World Rallycross Champion 2014, FIA World Rally Champion 2003
Susie WOLFF, development driver for the Williams F1 team
Kurt BUSCH, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion 2004
José-Maria LOPEZ, FIA World Touring Car Champion 2014
Esteban OCON, FIA European F3 Champion 2014
Mick DOOHAN, 500cc MotoGP World Champion 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994

Photo credit: Race of Champions

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ROC: Audi R8 LMS cars ready for the 2013 Race of Champions

By Johan Laubscher

The Macau Grand Prix was held over the past two weekends. Mr Macau Edoardo Mortara was victorious in the Audi R8 LMS Cup and Macau GT Cup events, behind the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS and R8 LMS ultra. Amongst all of the Macau Grand Prix happenings there was a brief glimpse of the next big Asian Audi R8 LMS event as well.

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ROC: Triple ROC ‘Champion of Champions’ Mattias Ekström returns

Race of Champions Press Release

•          Three-time ROC ‘Champion of Champions’ Mattias Ekström will return to the Race Of Champions at Bangkok in December
•          The Swedish DTM driver has twice defeated F1 great Michael Schumacher in the ROC Grand Final
•          Ekström joins a 2013 line-up that includes Schumacher, Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen, four-time V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup and new World Rally Champion Sébastien Ogier
•          Tickets are now available from the website www.raceofchampions.com

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