Double DTM titleholder Mattias Ekstrom has won his third Race of Champions crown at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium today, beating out seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher in the final.

On his way to the title, Ekstrom won his group over triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, five-time Moto GP champion Mick Doohan and multiple X-Games gold medallist Travis Pastrana. He then bettered eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen in the quarter finals and came out ahead of reigning F1 champion Jenson Button in the semi-finals.

The Swedish driver took a very close victory on Schumacher during the first round at the wheel of a 170-horsepower buggy, but his win on the second round was only slightly more decisive at the controls of a 240-horsepower KTM buggy when he completed the course a half-second ahead.

Ekstrom had taken victory at the 2006 and 2007 editions of the Race of Champions, and now adds the 2009 honours to his list while Schumacher once again sees the elusive ROC title slip away.

"It's amazing," Ekstrom gushed. "I didn't win it last year so to beat Michael Schumacher in the final now is extremely nice."

Ekstrom put his continuing success at the Race of Champions down to his upbringing: "I was born in the countryside in Sweden and drove lots of different cars as a boy, plus I've also had the pleasure of racing a lot of good touring cars, sportscars and rally cars. That is what makes the difference for me."

Schumacher said: "It has been a nice event, all in all, as always. It has the right mixture of seriousness behind the wheel and a relaxed atmosphere in which to meet some good guys."

Button reached the semi-finals, having won his group and beaten compatriot Andy Priaulx in the quarter finals. The man who was runner-up to Button in the F1 World Championship, Sebastian Vettel, also reached the penultimate round but lost to his countryman Schumacher.

Ekstron now holds three ROC crowns but retired World Rally Champion Didier Auriol holds the Race of Champions record with four titles to his name (1993, 1994, 1996 and 1999). The only Formula One driver to have come out on top is Heikki Kovalainen, who won the 'Champion of Champions' crown in 2004.

D.B. © CAPSIS International