National pop and rock station Virgin Radio was confirmed today as the official radio partner of this December’s The Race of Champions (ROC) at Wembley Stadium in London, which will see the world’s best motorsport stars take over the stadium and battle it out on a custom-build tarmac track in the hope of becoming this year’s Champion of Champions.
The station will use advertising spots, on-air and web-based ‘money-can’t-buy’ prizes to promote The Race of Champions over the next few months with Virgin Radio benefiting from trackside advertising at the 16 December event amongst other marketing activities.
“We are delighted at the prospect of collaborating with such an established and liked partner,” said Fredrik Johnsson, President of event organiser’s IMP. “The Race of Champion is an international event although being in the English capital this year, we expect a large part of our public will include UK-based fans. Virgin Radio enables us to reach so many of our target audience that I am certain a percentage of our success and popularity will be directly thanks to them.”
“Virgin Radio is a dynamic and upbeat station – the ideal platform for The Race of Champions to communicate with millions of people every week’ said David Andrews, Audience Development Director at Virgin Radio. “With stars such as Michael Schumacher, David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Colin McRae taking part, our audience’s enjoyment will be driven to extremes!”
Tickets are available for purchase through www.raceofchampions.com
Notes to editorsThe ROC was created in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and the world’s best woman rally driver Michèle Mouton, and remains the only opportunity for the world’s motorsport heroes from many various disciplines to race in exactly the same cars and on a parallel-track.
Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher will race for the first time since 2006, while Formula One star Jenson Button and reigning World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx, will represent the UK. David Coulthard, Colin McRae, triple Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais, Seven-times Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen and former DTM Champion Mattias Ekström have also all been confirmed for the event.
The premise is simple: using identical equipment and track, drivers can prove themselves based on their talent alone. The drivers compete in a series of knockout heats in their own division to determine their class champion. Then, in a shoot-out to determine who is the master of motorsport, the winners go head-to-head in a super final. The victor is rewarded with the title “The Champion of Champions”.
This traditional end-of-season showdown attracts spectators from across Europe. For three years the event, held at the Stade de France in Paris, has attracted well over 50,000 spectators each year.
Action from the Race of Champions - Nations Cup at Stade de France the 2006 Race of Champions Nations Cup was broadcast in over 200 countries and watched by more than 186 million viewers.
About Virgin Radio:Virgin Radio is the UK’s only commercial pop and rock music station. It can be heard on 105.8FM in London, 1215AM nationwide, on any DAB Digital Radio, via Sky Digital, Freeview and the cable TV networks and via WorldSpace.
Virgin Radio is the world’s most listened to station on the internet and can be heard at www.virginradio.co.uk. Virgin Radio Classic Rock, Virgin Radio Xtreme and Virgin Radio Groove extend the brand across the internet and Sky nationally, and on DAB in London.Virgin Radio is wholly owned by SMG plc.
