... in the 2005 Race of Champions – Nations Cup
For the first time in the history of the Race of Champions – Nations Cup, a Benelux team is to compete in this year's event which takes place in Paris on Saturday December 3rd. The latest confirmed ROC-Nations Cup entry features an exciting line-up comprising of rising Dutch Formula 1 star Christijan Albers and WRC ace François Duval from Belgium.
The other national squads already announced for this annual clash of motor sport champions from across the world are Brazil, Finland, France, Great Britain, Scandinavia and the USA (see below).
Both drivers will have every reason to celebrate too in front of their many fans who are expected to make the short trip from the Benelux region to the Stade de France. After his maiden season in F1 with Minardi in 2005, Christijan Albers was recently confirmed as one of the drivers who will spearhead the new Midland team in 2006, while François Duval claimed the first win of his career in world class rallying earlier this month in Rally Australia.
Although this will be Christijan Albers’ first participation in the Race of Champions – Nations Cup, François Duval was a regular contender in the event's final years in the Canary Islands where he qualified for the semi-finals three times in a row between 2001 and 2003.
"I’ve heard so much about this race from Jean Alesi ," said Christijan Albers who will commence winter testing with his new team at Jerez, Spain, shortly after racing at the Stade de France. "It's an honour to be the first Dutch driver to be invited and take part. I'm really looking forward to it, and to teaming up with Duval for Benelux. My aim’s clear: to win."
In addition to his contribution to Citroën's third consecutive Manufacturers' World Rally title, François Duval also became the first Belgian to win a WRC round in Perth on November 13th and is looking forward to flying his country's flag in the 2005 Race of Champions – Nations Cup. "Although I have previous experience of the event, I have never competed in the Nations Cup phase of the competition," he says. "I wasn't at the Stade de France last year either, so that will be new for me. The layout of the circuit is very different to the rally stage we had in the Canary Islands which could suit the drivers who come from circuit racing. But I'm looking forward to it very much and I will be bringing plenty of supporters with me from Belgium!"
Tickets are still available for the Stade de France, with prices starting from 25€ and reduced rates for under-16s. Car park space costs 13€ (advanced sales only). For further information or for a list of ticket sales outlets, spectators can call 0892 700 900 (from within France only) or +33 (1) 41 57 30 65, or else go to stadefrance.com on the internet.
The confirmed national teams for the 2005 Race of Champions – Nations Cup to date are:
TEAM 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). AUTOSPORT TEAM GREAT BRITAIN: David Coulthard (F1) + Colin McRae (WRC). TEAM SCANDINAVIA: Tom Kristensen (DK/Endurance) + Mattias Ekström (S/DTM). UNITED STATES: Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) + Travis Pastrana (X-GAMES).
WILD CARDS: Stéphane Peterhansel (Fr/Cross-Country Rally)+ Sébastien Bourdais (Fr/Champ Car) + Dan Wheldon (UK/IRL IndyCar)
