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Ferrari is preparing cars for the Race of Champions

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by poleposition, Oct 26, 2004.

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  1. poleposition

    poleposition Karting

    Dec 10, 2003
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    #1 poleposition, Oct 26, 2004
    http://f1.racing-live.com/en/headlines/news/detail/041026152414.shtml

    Sébastien Loeb’s taking of the 2004 FIA World Rally Championship in Corsica on Sunday has raised the stakes of December’s Race of Champions – Nations Cup at the Stade de France in Paris.

    It means the year’s best rally driver will now join the year’s best racing driver - F1 champion Michael Schumacher - in a unique showdown to help settle the argument of who is the world’s best driver.

    “I think most of the fans will come to see Michael, not me,” joked the modest new World Champion. “But I will do my best to beat him. I hope there are lots of French fans there.”

    “It is not often that rally drivers and racing drivers get a chance to compete against each other, and on a neutral track. It will make a great show. Rally drivers are very adaptable because of all the surfaces we use but F1 drivers are very precise. It will be exciting.”

    Michael Schumacher says he is relishing the chance to meet and compete against drivers from other disciplines. In addition to Loeb, the rally world will be represented by legend Colin McRae and double world champion Marcus Gronholm and NASCAR is sending two of its most competitive drivers, champion Jeff Gordon and regular race winner Jimmie Johnson, who took his 5th victory of the season at Loewes Motorspeedway on Saturday.



    ... Michael Schumacher!



    “I love competing. That’s part of what keeps me going, and in the Race of Champions I like the idea of having drivers from different series driving with and against each other,” said Schumacher. “Usually this is impossible for us to do. Plus it is simply nice to be able to meet those other drivers.”

    Loeb had already confirmed his participation in the motor sport spectacle, to be run on a two-lane circuit in the famous sports stadium before an estimated crowd of up to 60,000 fans. Becoming world champion is certain to make the evening event an even more highly-charged affair – especially in front of an enthusiastic crowd of French fans.

    French spectators will also have another local hero to cheer on. Former Ferrari F1 driver and Mercedes-Benz DTM Touring Car ace Jean Alesi has been revealed as Loeb’s partner in the French team for the Nations Cup - a multinational competition for pairs of racing and rally drivers to challenge rival countries over a series of races.

    “It is so exciting to be in the French team and with our new World Champion,” admitted Alesi. “I think it is a strong combination, especially having Sébastien in the team."

    “To perform at the Stade de France is going to be really interesting. All those fans and running the cars in a stadium. It will be unique. Fredrik Johnsson, Michèle Mouton and their team have done something really special. I can’t wait.”

    Alesi’s confirmation comes at the same time as that of Heikki Kovalainen, who was crowned champion of The World Series by Nissan this weekend. He will join Marcus Gronholm in the Finnish team.

    Citroen, who won the manufacturer’s World Championship in Corsica at the weekend, have confirmed they will be bringing three of their winning Xsaras to the Stade de France. In addition, Peugeot will supply the same number of 307 WRCs. Both French makes will be used by the Rally drivers, while the racing drivers will compete in four identical Ferrari Modena Challenge cars prepared by the factory in Maranello. Also in the line-up will be the spectacular buggy-style RoC Cars, which set the fastest lap time at last year's RoC in Gran Canaria with Moto X wizard Travis Pastrana at the wheel.



    So, what are everyone's thoughts on this???????
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 BigTex, Oct 26, 2004
    I say "very good"!

    That's how we settle the issue here, between OWRS, IRL ,and NASCAR.
    Give 'em all a Pontiac Trans Am and have at it.

    Dale Earnhart once punted a guy off the track in the COOL DOWN lap after the race! He had a little bit left, he wanted to express, apparently......

    They'll use 360s??????
     
  3. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
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    #3 snj5, Oct 26, 2004
    Does anyone know if and when this event will be covered in the US?
    Speed channel?

    This is going to be great, and I think the drivers will enjoy it immensely as well!
     
  4. poleposition

    poleposition Karting

    Dec 10, 2003
    123
    #4 poleposition, Oct 26, 2004
    I certainly hope SPEED covers this. I can't get any info on it yet but I'm praying.
     
  5. Lawrence Coppari

    Lawrence Coppari Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2002
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    #5 Lawrence Coppari, Oct 26, 2004
    One would think there are more serious things happening in the world these days to be praying about. Reminds me of someone I once knew who would pray for assistance in order to find his golf ball after an errant shot.
     
  6. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 BigTex, Oct 26, 2004
    "Don't do a man no good to pray for peace or rain"
    Tom T. Hall
    "Faster Horses, Younger women"
     
  7. Mule

    Mule F1 Rookie
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    #7 Mule, Oct 26, 2004
    SPEED should broadcast it since they have had it the last few years. Unfortunately, they always seemed to be at odd times (like Friday at 2:00 AM).

    Ferrari prepared Modenas? "Yes Michael, just press this hidden button under the seat for the extra 100HP."
     
  8. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 DGS, Oct 26, 2004
    Speed Channel tends to carry it delayed -- by a couple of months. It's a filler for the dead times around February.

    But with all the endless speculation, it'll be good to see Jeff Gordon and Schumi running around the same track in similar cars.

    Actually, I wonder if Michael would have trouble with a Siat or Peugeot, given that he's used to much better brakes. (Overshot turns 1,2,3,4...) ;)
     
  9. FarmerDave

    FarmerDave F1 World Champ
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    #9 FarmerDave, Nov 1, 2004
    I'll take it any way I can get it. :D
     
  10. LopeAlong

    LopeAlong Formula Junior

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    #10 LopeAlong, Nov 1, 2004
    Too cool! And one of my all time favs Jean Alesi is running too! You just gotta love a guy who tosses his helmet into the crowd just because he finished the entire race (not even on the podium!)!
    Jim
     
  11. vince308

    vince308 Formula 3

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    #11 vince308, Nov 1, 2004
    this will be a great event over here, hope we can all see it on tv.
     
  12. Gilles27

    Gilles27 F1 World Champ

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    #12 Gilles27, Nov 1, 2004
    So is it a figure-8 smash-up derby, or a death-jump over a tank of hungry sharks and lions;)
     
  13. alx355gt

    alx355gt F1 Veteran

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    #13 alx355gt, Nov 24, 2004
  14. costa

    costa Formula Junior

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    #14 costa, Nov 24, 2004
    It will be a very cool race but............. poor 360s!!!!
     
  15. tuttebenne

    tuttebenne F1 Rookie

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    #15 tuttebenne, Nov 24, 2004
    Looks like a short track in a confined area. I can't see how this could be much fun to watch other than to watch the bending of very expensive sheet metal. The IROC done in the US had some years during which it was popular but that faded and its pretty much a non-event to road race fans.

    Put Schumie, Gordon, and the others into brand new cars coming off the assembly line (I don't care if they are all Fords, all Citroens all Volvos or all Hyundais). Pick them at random over a two week manufacturing period so there is little chance of cheating. Install roll cages and fire systems and let them run at one oval, one road course and one drag strip. The shortest total time to fully complete all three events would be the victor. I would find that more interesting.
     
  16. ctkellett

    ctkellett Karting

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    #16 ctkellett, Nov 24, 2004
    I found out this past weekend in Miami that NBC will be doing a piece on this race next week. I was asked to work on it but it overlaps a current job. They will be flying over with Gordon and Johnson, leaving from the NASCAR dinner in NYC. I am not sure of the air date but I do know that it will be at least a week after, if not more.
     
  17. sindo308qv

    sindo308qv F1 Rookie

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    #17 sindo308qv, Nov 25, 2004
    speed will be showing it on Dec.12th. Its showing live on Dec. 4th. If you go to www.raceofchampions.com it'll tell you there under programming I think.
     
  18. sindo308qv

    sindo308qv F1 Rookie

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    #18 sindo308qv, Nov 25, 2004
    Sorry, forgot to mention that the live broadcast is on one of those new HD channels.
     
  19. F40Lover

    F40Lover Karting

    Mar 28, 2004
    203
    #19 F40Lover, Nov 26, 2004
    Ferrari has not yet confirmed or denied.............................................. that it has cut off two cylinders from Michaels's Champinship V10 engine so that it will fit the 360 for the Race of Champions in December.
     
  20. ctkellett

    ctkellett Karting

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    #20 ctkellett, Dec 2, 2004
    Word is that Jeff Gordon is too sick to make the race and has dropped out. Johnson is still going and today they were looking to have Tony Stewart go is his place, it is a bummer. Gordon has not being able to make most of the NASCAR events this week in NYC. Maybe next year.
     
  21. Doody

    Doody F1 Veteran

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    #21 Doody, Dec 2, 2004
    HDNET is going to carry it - very cool! it should look gorgeous!

    HD NET Live The Race of Champions Saturday 4 Dec 16h30 - 18h30 CET
    HD NET Live The ROC Nations Cup Saturday 4 Dec 19h - 21h CET
    Speed Highlight - special ROC program Sunday 12 Dec TBC

    CET is GMT + 1. EDT is GMT - 4. so EDT is CET - 5. i think :)

    so the show starts on HDNET saturday at 1130 EDT.

    looking forward to putting this one on the HD PVR. should be amusing if nothing else!

    doody.

    UDPATE: good thing i'm not a moron, i should have just checked the hdnet site, which says it's at 10:30 ET. so never mind my math above!
     
  22. DGS

    DGS Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    #22 DGS, Dec 3, 2004
    Looks like Speed Channel will be running it 12/12 at 8pm (ET) with replays 12/18,2pm and 12/25 9pm. They also have a "behind the scenes" special with Jimmie Johnson scheduled for 12/12 at 9:30pm, with a replay on xmas.

    You can search for "Race of Champions" on Speed's schedule site: http://www.speedtv.com/schedule/index.php?timezone=0&d=&ts=&week=&wholeMonth=&usecal=no

    Doody: Daylight savings time (EDT) ended a month or so ago. ;)

    Oops: Looks like sindo already mentioned the SC coverage.
     
  23. EVartanian

    EVartanian Formula 3

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    #23 EVartanian, Dec 3, 2004

    I'm seeing it only on the 12th (8pm & 1am), 18th (2pm), and 25th (9pm)...all times eastern. Nevertheless, looking forward to it. Hope coverage is good.

    [Edit: Nevermind, looks like you edited]
     
  24. bobafett

    bobafett F1 Veteran

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    #24 bobafett, Dec 3, 2004
    GOtta remember to set the DVR on this one. SPEED INDEED!

    --Dan
     
  25. alx355gt

    alx355gt F1 Veteran

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    #25 alx355gt, Dec 4, 2004
    Pretty entertaining show and surprising result! :D That Finish driver did really well! :) Nice to see his joy at the end jumping on top of the 360... :)
     
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