In a surprising turn of events, renowned racers Mattias Ekstrom and Max McRae have announced their departure from the much-anticipated Race of Champions event scheduled to take place this weekend in Sydney, Australia. The news has sent a ripple of surprise through the racing community, as both drivers hold significant clout within the industry.
Ekstrom, a four-time victor of the Race of Champions, has unfortunately had to drop out due to a sudden illness. McRae, on the other hand, is dealing with a wrist injury that will prevent him from participating. These last-minute changes have necessitated a shake-up in the Nations Cup lineups.
Chaz Mostert, a distinguished figure on the racing scene with 24 Australian Supercars race victories under his belt, will step into Ekstrom’s shoes. Mostert will join forces with Johan Kristoffersson, and as a result, Team Sweden has been rebranded as Team All-Stars. In a similar vein, Max McRae’s vacant spot will be filled by Alister McRae, who will pair up with David Coulthard, the 2014 and 2018 Race of Champions winner, in Team GB.
The Nations Cup field will also witness the participation of several other eminent racers. Team USA will see Travis Pastrana and Kurt Busch at the helm, while Team Germany will be represented by Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher. Team Norway will feature Petter and Oliver Solberg, although Oliver will compete under the Swedish flag in the individual Race of Champions competition. Other teams include Team New Zealand with Hayden Paddon and Louis Sharp, Team France with Sebastien Loeb and Victor Martins, and Team Finland with Valtteri Bottas and Heikki Kovalainen.
The host nation will be represented by two distinct teams: Team Australia Supercars, which will include Jamie Whincup and Will Brown, and Team Australia Off-Road, featuring Molly Taylor and Toby Price.
This year’s Race of Champions will see the use of six select vehicles, including the ever-popular SuperCar Lites rallycross car and the KTM X-Bow. The Polaris RZR will also make a return, while the Subaru BRZ tS, Toyota GR86 Cup, and FC2 rallycross car will be introduced for the first time.
Race of Champions president and co-founder Fredrik Johnsson expressed confidence in the lineup of vehicles, stating, “All six cars require a unique skill level to get the most out of them. Some drivers will be strong in one car and not so sharp in others, but it is the driver who is the most consistent across all the cars who will put themselves in contention for victory.” He further added, “We have a minimum of three cars in each category, so we have a little room in case of major damage, but obviously the plan is to get through the two nights of racing with all cars intact.”
The event will also have an experienced crew of mechanics and engineers on standby as a precautionary measure. Despite the unexpected changes, the anticipation for the Race of Champions remains high, promising a thrilling weekend of racing action.
