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Race of Champions

2015 General Race of Champions

United Kingdom
Nov 19, 2015 to Nov 21, 2015
London Olympic Stadium, GB
Live text
General Race of Champions

Race of Champions live

Live Text

As Vettel lifts his trophy, that's it for us from the 2015 edition of the Race of Champions. Many thanks for tuning in - and we'll see you in Yas Marina!
After the celebratory donuts, Vettel notes that it "took a while". He then speaks of his long-time Nations' Cup teammate Michael Schumacher.
 Sebastian Vettel 2:0 Tom Kristensen   [KTM X-Bow]

Sebastian Vettel completes his parade lap and wins the 2015 edition of Race of Champions!
Lights out! And Kristensen makes a mess off the line, hits the barriers.
They're back out and about to get the showdown underway.
Track clean-up still going on. "Final Countdown" playing on the radio but I don't think we actually have a formal countdown here.
They're putting them into the KTM X-Bow instead of the buggy at the moment.
Fluid on-track, Kristensen and Vettel heading back off track. Car change on the cards.
Car issue for Kristensen by the looks of it. So we're on standby here.
Next up - the ROC buggy for what coudl be the final heat of this event.
 Sebastian Vettel 1:0 Tom Kristensen   [Radical SR3]

Vettel is halfway to his first Race of Champions' individual title. He goes a few tenths up on Kristensen.

But now for a car change.
Somebody's Top Gun DVD must've snuck its way into the broadcast booth. "Danger Zone" followed up by an instrumental from the movie.
You would've gotten the feeling Kristensen would not get another good shot at the ROC title, having been runner-up three times - in 2005, 2011, 2012.

Yet, now retired from racing and here he is, with only Sebastian Vettel left to clear.
Tom Kristensen 2:0 Alex Buncombe   [Radical SR3]

Three tenths and Kristensen books his place in his fourth ROC final.
Tom Kristensen 1:0 Alex Buncombe   [Radical SR3]

Buncombe off to a rather slow start and, despite his best efforts, he can't make up ground on Kristensen. Advantage Mr. Le Mans.
This marks Vettel's first Race of Champions individual final, funnily enough.

He won the Nations' Cup six times with Michael Schumacher, but never progressed past the semi-final stage in the "Champion of Champions" contest.
 Sebastian Vettel 2:1 David Coulthard   [KTM X-Bow]

And Vettel duly punches his ticket into the final. We'll get a new ROC winner here, with reigning champion DC eliminated.
 Sebastian Vettel 1:1 David Coulthard   [KTM X-Bow]

But Coulthard comes back, in spectacular fashion, beating Vettel by a tenth on the line.
 Sebastian Vettel 1:0 David Coulthard   [KTM X-Bow]

As we briefly lose wi-fi here, Vettel eases past Coulthard in the first heat.

"Well, Jason, you're the only one who did a jump start this whole weekend."

"Well, thank you very much."
David Coulthard's KTM X-Bow says "nope" and breaks down metres before the start.
Pascal Wehrlein takes the Mercedes F1 W04 for another spin. Hopefully he'll get more F1 action in the coming season.

 

Pascal Wehrlein in the Mercedes AMG F1
Pascal Wehrlein in the Mercedes AMG F1

Photo by: Race of Champions

 

Semi-finals:

 Sebastian Vettel v David Coulthard

Tom Kristensen v Alex Buncombe
 Andy Priaulx 1:2 Alex Buncombe   [Mercedes GT S]

He's done it! Spectacular run in the Mercedes by Buncombe and the ROC debutant edges Priaulx again, by 0.17s.
 Andy Priaulx 1:1 Alex Buncombe   [Mercedes GT S]

Buncombe was a lap away from a massive upset, but a big slide from the Nissan man allows Priaulx to get back into this. We get a decider.
 Andy Priaulx 0:1 Alex Buncombe   [Mercedes GT S]

Well how about that?! Alex Buncombe is not particularly interested in "going to school" and he wins by two tenths. Bravo.
Hunter-Reay: "Andy Priaulx's on a roll, he took everyone to school yesterday, hopefully he can go all the way."
Spotting lots of big-name motorsport people in the VIP lounges today. Rob Smedley is here, as is Eric Boullier.
 Tom Kristensen 2:0 Jason Plato   [ROC Car]

No major mistakes from Plato, but he can't match Kristensen's pace in the buggy, going half a second slower. Mr. Le Mans is through.
 Tom Kristensen 1:0 Jason Plato   [ROC Car]

The 5-second penalty for jumping the start is irrelevant anyway as Kristensen wins by two seconds on the road.
Jump start for Plato against Kristensen. Barring major disaster, the Dane is going one up.
Massa tips Priaulx to win the whole thing. Seems like a rather good call, that.
Felipe Massa 0:2 David Coulthard   [KTM X-Bow]

Who do we have to bribe to get a decider here? Massa all over Coulthard, but comes up 0.04s short.
Felipe Massa 0:1 David Coulthard   [KTM X-Bow]

Coulthard continues his title defence steamroller. Half a second quicker than Massa in Heat 1.
 Sebastian Vettel 2:0 Nico Hulkenberg   [ROC Car]

Calm as you like, Vettel sees off the challenge of his teammate. He then points two fingers at the camera.
 Sebastian Vettel 1:0 Nico Hulkenberg   [ROC Car]

Nothing between Vettel and Hulkenberg over Lap 1, but the Force India man loses a second on Lap 2. Advantage Vettel.
A light-hearted chat between Plato and Kristensen, who raced together in the BTCC well back in the day.

I reckon they didn't get on very much back then, but they're both having fun now.
Vettel, on being told that he is yet to win the ROC individual title, responds with "thanks for reminding".

Maybe today is the day for the German. He's only lost one heat all weekend - naturally, to Priaulx.
Susie Wolff predicts former teammate Coulthard as the ROC winner, Solberg picks Vettel as his prediction.

Tom Kristensen will be having words with the Norwegian, surely?
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