Romain Grosjean takes out 2012 Race of Champions

The 2012 Race of Champions (ROC) has wrapped up for another year with Team Lotus Formula One driver Romain Grosjean crowned the Champion of Champions at this year’s event in Bangkok.

The annual ROC event brings together the world’s best drivers from all the disciplines of competition â€" both four wheels and two â€" and pits them against each other in head-to-head battles on the same track in the same car, ensuring the best will win. This year saw drivers get behind the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS, Volkswagen Scirocco, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo, and the Toyota 86.

2012 ROC - Romain Grosjean

This year’s list of participants included the likes of three-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, two-time Moto GP world champion Jorge Lorezo, and four-time Australian V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup, all battling with motorsport’s best from categories such as World Rally, IndyCar and Le Mans.

Romain Grosjean claimed top honours for the first time after eliminating the 45-year-old Danish Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen in the final day’s competition. F1 veterans Michael Schumacher and David Coulthard made it to the semi-finals with Grosjean taking out the recently (yet again) retired German, while Coulthard went down to 12-time Race Of Champions competitor Kristensen.

2012 ROC - Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel

The 2012 F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel was knocked out in the quarter-finals for the second year in a row, when he heavily contacted a barrier handing Grosjean victory for the round. Last year’s ROC winner, WRC star Sebastien Ogier, also bowed out in the quarter-finals, being beaten by Kristensen.

Schumacher and Vettel teamed up again to take out their sixth consecutive ROC Nations Cup title for Germany, ahead of Team France’s Grosjean and Ogier. Team All Stars Jorge Lorenzo and Tom Kristensen along with Team Australia’s Jamie Whincup and five-time Moto GP world champion Mick Doohan, made it to the semi-finals.

Click on the Photos tab for more images.

2012 ROC - Tom Kristensen during practice


 

Comments