Zoom Big changes for the 2009 Race of Champions

The Race of Champions will become the first major international sports event to be staged at China’s national stadium since the 2008 Summer Olympics when it takes place on November 3rd-4th, 2009.

The 'Bird’s Nest' stadium will host the event, which moves from Wembley after a two-year run at England’s national stadium and three years at the Stade de France in Paris. The 2009 event, which will start just two days after the Formula One season reaches its climax in Abu Dhabi, will move from a weekend to a midweek event for the first time.

The event will be staged over two days, with the ROC Nations Cup on Tuesday, November 3rd and The Race of Champions on Wednesday, November 4th, to offer spectators a more extensive exhibitions line-up, plus the possibility of more competitors and teams than ever before.

Fredrik Johnsson, IMP President
“We received exciting proposals from five world-class stadia, but after the incredible Olympics last year, Beijing’s candidacy was difficult to ignore. The Bird’s Nest venue is awesome and having spent the last five years at two of Europe’s biggest stadiums, we were thrilled about the opportunity to take The Race of Champions to Asia for the first time, to another of the world’s most iconic sporting arenas.”

“I would like to say thank you to Wembley for the past two years. The people there were great to work with and helped us put on two fantastic events. This year will be the Race of Champions’ first year outside of Europe, but we will definitely be back soon.”

Mr Li Jianyi, GM Beijing CITIC
“Following last year’s Olympics, we now possess one of the world’s best sporting stadia and will continue to stage elite international sporting competition in Beijing. We are very excited about The Race of Champions coming. The stadium has already hosted the world’s fastest athletes; now it will host the world’s fastest racers.”

E.A. © CAPSIS International