Team Nordic’s Tom Kristensen and Johan Kristoffersson took the victory in the ROC Nations Cup at Mexico City’s Foro Sol Saturday.
On a sunny afternoon in the Mexican capital, legends from 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 VUHL 05 ROC Edition 2019, Ariel Atom Cup, Stadium Super Truck, RX Supercar Lite, Speed SXS UTV, KTM X-Bow and ROC Car – on a purpose-built pursuit track.
as ‘Mr. Le Mans’ Kristensen and reigning World RallyX Champion Kristoffersson prevailed in the final against the might of Team Germany. In the first heat Kristensen beat off the challenge of four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel by two races to one.
FIA Formula 3 European Champion Mick Schumacher struck back in style for Team Germany by beating Kristoffersson 2-0 in the second heat. But in the end Kristensen, competing in a record-equaling 15th Race Of Champions, was just too strong in the finale to seal the ROC Nations Cup final for Team Nordic.
“That was a very tight fight, as you saw with my race with Sebastian,” Kristensen said. “Then Mick had a brilliant fight with Johan that brought them to the third race. He should be very proud of himself on his first visit to the Race Of Champions – and I’m always proud any time to beat a Schumacher.
“So we are both very proud to take Team Nordic to the win today. It was Johan who brought us into the final, because he was very strong early on. He started the day better and I finished the day better, and it worked out in the end. This was my 15th appearance here, equaling Stig Blomqvist’s record. I hope Stig is watching it somewhere and I hope he’s a bit proud of me even if I’m not a Swede!”
Team Germany narrowly missed out on bringing home the trophy.
“This was a great experience, and it was special to share it with Sebastian,” Schumacher said. “He’s done an awesome job and without him we wouldn’t have made it into the final. So we’re happy to have had a good run in the ROC Nations Cup, now we can turn our focus to tomorrow’s individual Race Of Champions.”
Take a bow, Team Nordic! Tom Kristensen and Johan Kristoffersson take the ROC Nations Cup after an epic battle against Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher. #ROCMexico pic.twitter.com/KlFNCR9pJS
The home fans cheered on Team Mexico’s F1 star Esteban Gutierrez and 2018 Indy Lights Champion Patricio O’Ward all the way to the semi-finals, before they were finally defeated by Team Nordic. Team Brazil (Helio Castroneves and Lucas di Grassi) also made it as far as the semi-final before they were beaten in straight heats by Team Germany.
The afternoon’s action began with the 10 teams split into three round-robin groups. On a day of match-ups between huge stars of world motor sport, many superstars fell by the wayside at this early stage.
Team France (F1 ace Pierre Gasly and Le Mans star Loïc Duval) were one of the early casualties, defeated in Group A despite a win apiece. Team Infinitum Mexico (Memo Rojas and Benito Guerra) also went out despite two wins. Both teams were defeated by Team Germany and Team Mexico, who both progressed with four wins each. Team Germany were placed at the top of the group as a result of having the fastest times in the ROC Skills Challenge.
Team Brazil came out on top of Group B with three wins at the expense of two teams who were only decided this morning. Team Sim Racing All Stars (eROC world final winners Enzo Bonito and James Baldwin) took a win apiece but went out. Team Telcel Mexico (NASCAR ace Daniel Suarez and ROC Mexico kart race winner Ruben Garcia Jr.) also left at this stage with a single win between them.
Team Nordic’s Group C triumph with three wins also resulted in some of motorsport’s biggest names leaving the competition. Team Great Britain (David Coulthard and Andy Priaulx) ended up on two wins while Team USA’s pair of IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden finished with a single victory.
Earlier in the day James Baldwin came out on top in the eROC World Final between some of the world’s fastest gamers. The action took place both in real-life ROC Cars on the Riyadh track and in the virtual world of Assetto Corsa. The Briton saw off the challenge of fellow countryman Brendon Leigh in an enthralling final to win his place on the ROC Nations Cup grid. Sebastian Job and Nils Naujoks also performed well but were knocked out in the group stages.
Before today’s action the drivers took part in the ROC Skills Challenge, a special course set up near the Foro Sol track featuring chicanes, slaloms, 360° turns and parallel parking. There was an early triumph for Vettel, whose time of 42.72s edged Kristoffersson into second place by little over a tenth of a second.
Sunday drivers put their regional friendships aside and go it alone in the individual Race Of Champions.
Race Of Champions Draw (Sunday 20 January)
Group A
David COULTHARD (Great Britain) 13-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner
Tom KRISTENSEN (Denmark) nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner
Patricio O’WARD (Mexico) 2018 Indy Lights Champion
Winner of Round 1A between the ROC Mexico Sunday winner* and Andy PRIAULX
Group B
Johan KRISTOFFERSSON (Sweden) double FIA World Rallycross Champion
Lucas DI GRASSI (Brazil) 2016-2017 Formula E Champion
Josef NEWGARDEN (USA) 2017 IndyCar Champion
Winner of Round 1B between Loïc DUVAL and Helio CASTRONEVES
Group C
Sebastian VETTEL (Germany) four-time Formula 1 World Champion
Daniel SUAREZ (Mexico) 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion
Benito GUERRA (Mexico) 2012 Production World Rally Champion
Winner of Round 1C between Memo ROJAS and Mick SCHUMACHER
Group D
Pierre GASLY (France) Formula 1 driver for Red Bull Racing in 2019
Esteban GUTIERREZ (Mexico) Formula 1 driver for Sauber and Haas
Ryan HUNTER-REAY (USA) 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner
Winner of Round 1D between Enzo BONITO and James BALDWIN
*Before the day’s action Mexican drivers Rubén García Jr, Pancho Name, Abraham Calderón, Martín Fuentes, Ricardo Triviño, Rubén Rovelo, Ricardo Sánchez and Ricardo Cordero will fight it out for a place in the ROC field.
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