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Škoda Fabia Super 2000 lined up for the Race Of Champions

The four-wheel drive rally car is the first to be confirmed for the event, with a wide range of machinery due to follow in the run-up to ROC 2011.
The Skoda Fabia Super 2000 was this week given a track test at the ROC venue, Düsseldorf's ESPRIT arena.

   
The Skoda Fabia Super 2000, currently competing in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, has become the first machinery to be confirmed for the 2011 Race Of Champions at Düsseldorf's ESPRIT arena on December 3-4.
       
The car was given its first ROC run at the track test for the 2011 event, which took place this week at the Düsseldorf venue (see pictures here). The circuit layout, which has undergone only minor changes since last year's successful event, was set up on tarmac next to the stadium. The drivers in action were ROC co-founder and former world rally driver Michèle Mouton, German racing legend Hans-Joachim Stuck and ROC race director Marc Duez (pictured alongside race organiser Fredrik Johnsson and Patrik Meyer of German race promoter TSP).

       
Duez, who carried out the debut ROC track test in the 270bhp, four-wheel drive Skoda, declared: "It goes without saying that driving this agile rally car was great fun for me, but the crowds will also love the Skoda Fabia Super 2000. They will have the chance to see a top rally car that is virtually tailor-made for circuits like this, so it will have what it takes to deliver to the max."

The drivers in action agreed that the track, which will be built inside the stadium itself early in December, will guarantee a spectacular show. Mouton, who designed the layout of the circuit in her role as ROC track director, confirmed that it had passed its first litmus test, adding: "The track has been only slightly modified since last year so it will again provide the perfect setting for a spectacular show. That means ROC's fans can look forward to another two days packed with thrilling action, with the best drivers of the world battling it out face to face at the wheel of a range of different machinery - including the Skoda Fabia Super 2000 which we used this week to complete the first ROC mileage of the year."

       
The Race Of Champions is an annual end-of-season competition that brings together the world's greatest drivers from all motor sport's disciplines - including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans and NASCAR - and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery on a specially constructed parallel track. Drivers pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year scheduled for Saturday 3 December, before the individual Race Of Champions takes place on Sunday 4 December.
       
Of course, as ever the competing drivers will have to show off their skills in a wide range of machinery - with Skoda's challenger the latest asset in what will be an impressive fleet. ROC 2011 will indeed feature four-wheel drive, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive competition cars.

       
Five drivers have been confirmed so far for ROC 2011, including F1 world champions Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button. Plenty more big names will be added in the run-up to the event at Düsseldorf in December. For information about tickets (starting from €19) please visit the website www.raceofchampions.com.
       
Drivers already confirmed for the 2011 Race Of Champions:
       
Sebastian VETTEL, Reigning Formula 1 World Champion
Michael SCHUMACHER, Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion
Mattias EKSTROM, DTM star and triple ROC Champion of Champions
Andy PRIAULX, Three-time World Touring Car Champion
Jenson BUTTON, 2009 Formula 1 World Champion