Race of Champions, only 1 day to go

Twenty of the world's top drivers (F1, NASCAR, WRC, GP2,...) will gather at the Stade de France in Paris this weekend for the 18th running of the Race of Champions – Nations Cup which kicks off at 4 p.m., Saturday December 3.

Drivers have already begun to arrive in Paris, including two-times World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, the two-times Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais, Jean Alesi, Jeff 'Mr. NASCAR' Gordon, Stéphane 'Monsieur Dakar' Peterhansel, Tom 'Mr. Le Mans' Kristensen, Travis 'Mr. X-Games' Pastrana and the defending Race of Champions winner Heikki Kovalainen. They will join their fellow competitors at the Stade de France early Friday afternoon for the first free practice session at the wheel of Citroën Xsara WRCs, Porsche 911 GT3 Road Challenges, Renault Mégane Trophys and ROC Cars.

As the countdown to the action enters its final phase, Fredrik Johnsson, IMP President (event organiser) is delighted with the way preparations have gone: "The track has been completed and the drivers are beginning to arrive. Our priority today was to see how the two cars that are running for the first time here at the Stade de France – the Porsche and the Mégane – coped with the circuit. Everything went perfectly, including the jump over the bridge, so there won't be any need to add chicanes this year. And that can only make the show even more spectacular with all these world class champions at the wheel!"

Some 52,000 spectators are expected at the Stade de France on Saturday to watch this annual motor sport extravaganza. But it's not just the racing that will keep them warm: during the pause between the Nations Cup and the Race of Champions, British stunt driver Terry Grant will not only show off his unique 'doughnut' technique but he is also planning to attempt a new world record. American star Travis Pastrana (five times X-Games winner) will perform back flips high in the Parisian sky with his motocross bike, while rallying's acrobatic Jean Ragnotti will perform demonstration laps with the Group B Renault 5 Maxi Turbo that won 1985 Tour of Corsica.

At 9.10 p.m., Renault F1 cars will take front stage for an exceptional demonstration run, with Franck Montagny driving the 2005 World Championship-winning Renault R25 and René Arnoux steering Renault's first ever F1 challenger from 1977, the RS01.

Finally, Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais will drive the 750hp Newman-Haas V8 single-seater with which he recently clinched his second consecutive Champ Car World Series title. Although the USA-based championship takes in four continents, this will be the first time a champ car challenger has been seen in Europe this year, and the first time ever in France!

For reference, the confirmed national teams for the 2005 Race of Champions – Nations Cup to date are:
BENELUX: Christijan Albers (NL/F1) + François Duval (B/WRC). BRAZIL: Felipe Massa (F1) + Nelson Piquet Jr. (GP2/A1GP). FINLAND: Marcus Grönholm (WRC) + Heikki Kovalainen (GP2). FRANCE: Jean Alesi (DTM) + Sébastien Loeb (WRC). TEAM PLAYSTATION FRANCE: Sébastien Bourdais (Champ Car) + Stéphane Peterhansel (Rally-raid). GERMANY: Bernd Schneider (DTM) + Armin Schwarz (WRC). GREAT BRITAIN: David Coulthard (F1) + Colin McRae (WRC). SCANDINAVIA: Tom Kristensen (DK/Endurance) + Mattias Ekström (S/DTM). UNITED STATES: Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) + Travis Pastrana (X-GAMES).

For more information: http://www.raceofchampions.com/

Wild card entries (competing in the individual Race of Champions only): Dani Sordo (E/WRC) and Dan Wheldon (GB/IRL)