Petter Solberg and Tom Kristensen rejoin for Race of Champions 2015

Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen and reigning FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg have joined the field for the 2015 Race Of Champions to defend last year’s victory in Nations Cup at ROC event on Barbados. ROC 2015 will be held on November 20-21 at the Stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.

Denmark’s Kristensen is acknowledged as most successful endurance racer in motor sport history. He has a record nine wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, six wins at the Sebring 12-hour race, an American Le Mans Series title and FIA World Endurance Championship title in 2013. Since his retirement from WEC at the end of last season he has continued to work as an ambassador for Audi and he was the Grand Marshal 24h Le Mans race.

Norway’s Solberg is another member of driving’s elite, having reached the top of the world in two different fields of motor sport. He won the FIA World Rally Championship in 2003. He switched to the FIA World Rallycross Championship last year and became first world champion. Solberg is also leading this year’s championship as he bids to defend his title.

Prior to last year in Barbados, Solberg’s last Race Of Champions appearance came at Wembley Stadium in 2007 when he partnered brother Henning to the semi-finals of the ROC Nations Cup. Kristensen has rather more experience, having appeared at every Race Of Champions since 2001.

Now, following their ROC Nations Cup victory in Barbados for Team Nordic last year, Kristensen and Solberg have another title to defend in November at London’s former Olympic Stadium. The pair will also join the reigning ROC Champion of Champions David Coulthard in the individual Race Of Champions, with the rest of the superstar field due to be announced soon.

Kristensen said: “My ‘official’ last race was at the World Endurance Championship in Sao Paulo last year but I count the Race Of Champions as the exception to the rule! I’ve been coming here for many years and I hope to keep that up into the future. The challenge is to drive against top drivers from a wide range of motor sport series, but what we all love about ROC is that we get to socialise off the track too. ROC is always great fun, and I’m sure it will treat a pensioner very well!”

Solberg added: “Of course there is a fun side to the Race Of Champions but that’s not why we all come. When I do anything I always want to give 110 percent. So we come to race, push to the max and show the rest who’s boss. But at ROC you don’t get much time to think and you have to get straight on the pace so it’s not easy.

“The big problem is that all the other drivers are as crazy as I am! Nonetheless Tom and I had a good run last year and we’ll do everything to reach the top of the podium again in London. Then I’ll work just as hard to beat him – and everyone else – in the individual Race Of Champions. Either way we’ll put on plenty of action for the fans to make sure everyone leaves the former Olympic Stadium with a smile on their face.”