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Race of Champions 2023


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#1 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 15:10

No thread for this?

Anyway; just as last year it’s set in the north of Sweden (Piteå to be precise). Line-up is largely similar:

Petter Solberg
Oliver Solberg
Sebastian Loeb
Adrian Tambay
Thierry Neuville
Felipe Drugovich
Tom Kristensen
Felix Rosenqvist
Jamie Chadwick
David Coulthard
Mika Häkkinen
Valtteri Bottas
Tanner Foust
Travis Pastrana
Johan Kristoffersson
Mattias Ekström
Sebastian Vettel
Mick Schumacher

+ some eSport-profiles apparently.

Last year’s edition was pretty good imo, so let’s hope for some great entertainment this weekend!

Edited by Rediscoveryx, 26 January 2023 - 16:20.


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#2 BRG

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 15:21

The habitual loose definition of 'champion' in play as usual, I see.



#3 theblackangus

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 15:40

When is this and how can one view it?

 



#4 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 15:48

When is this and how can one view it?


Well, it’s this weekend. Nations Cup on Saturday and the individual competition on Sunday. I believe it’s between 12 and 3 PM (CET) both days.

#5 owenmahamilton

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 16:12

Jamie Chadwick is facing Sebastian Vettel in the first round.



#6 DS27

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 18:09

Jamie Chadwick is facing Sebastian Vettel in the first round.

 

 

That will end well



#7 theblackangus

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 18:20

Well, it’s this weekend. Nations Cup on Saturday and the individual competition on Sunday. I believe it’s between 12 and 3 PM (CET) both days.

Thanks!



#8 owenmahamilton

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Posted 26 January 2023 - 18:44

That will end well

 

Well he is recently retired so he might go easy on her  :lol:



#9 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 07:58

So the draw is in:

 

https://www.raceofch...n-sweden-s-snow

 

I'll provide you with a Nostradamus-like prophecy of how things'll shape up, so if you don't want any spoilers, please stop reading now.

 

Nations cup:

 

Qualifying round:

 

Team Finland - Team eROC

I know jack squat about the eROC-guys, so Team Finland will be favourites by default.

 

Team GB - Team Germany

This one's actually a bit tough to predict. Vettel was very impressive last year and will probably be the best individual driver in this matchup, but otherwise I think it will be fairly close. Chadwick was fairly competitive last year (beating Häkkinen in a heat if I'm not mistaken). I still think that the German's more recent racing experience will pay off and that they'll end up advancing.

 

Quarter finals:

 

Team Norway - Team France

The unknown factor here is Adrien Tambay. I have no idea how well he'll take to racing on snow, but the other three are all more or less to be considered as specialists. As these contests generally are dependent on not having the weakest link in your team I'd say that the norwegians are favourites here.

 

Team Sweden- Team Nordic

A similar story here. Kristoffersson/Ekström are both all-rounders who'll be strong on any surface, while the Nordic team (Kristensen/Rosenqvist) are circuit-based racers. Sweden should take this one.

 

Team USA - Team All-starts

A tricky one. I honestly don't really know how to gauge the americans, while Drugovich on snow is also an unknown quantity. Thierry Neuville should be strong of course. On balance, my gut feeling is that the americans will take this one, although this is dependent on Drugovich struggling (which won't necessarily be the case).

 

Team Finland - Team Germany

This will be interesting. Thinking about it, Bottas will probably be fairly strong on ice given his passion for rallying. I think Vettel will continue to shine while Mick and Mika are more uncertain. I'm thinking coin flip here, but with a 51-49 advantage to the Germans.

 

Semi finals:

 

Team Norway - Team Sweden

Speaking of coin flips... In the end, I think that the Solbergs may be slightly more motivated here (to retain their crown), so I'll give them the nod on that basis.

 

Team USA - Team Germany

Gut feeling again. 

 

Final:

 

Team Norway - Team Germany

A second straight title for the Solberg family is my prediction. They are one of few teams with two top line snow drivers and also seem to have the necessary motivation to treat this as a true competition. 

 

 

Race of Champions:

 

Qualifying round:

 

Adrien Tambay - David Coulthard

As mentioned previously, I have no idea whatsoever how strong Tambay will be in this context, but he's a contemporary racer (which I think should be quite heavily weighted in his favor), and Coulthard is not a natural snow racer. I'll give Tambay the nod here.

 

Felix Rosenqvist - Mick Schumacher

Felix is adaptable and racing in front of his (sort of) home crowd. I think he'll be slightly faster than Mick.

 

Round of 16:

 

Mika Häkkinen - Felipe Drugovich

I'll continue to go by the "contemporary-racers-will-beat-retired-stars" rule here, even though Drugovich on snow is a complete unknown. It could just as easily be a complete walk-over by Mika.

 

Adrien Tambay - Felix Rosenqvist

Again a tricky one, I'll give Felix the nod based on his versatiity.

 

Valtteri Bottas - Tom Kristensen

A bit of a shame that these two were pitched against each other this early. Bottas has more rally experience (I think) and is my pick to advance.

 

Sebastian Vettel - Jamie Chadwick

Vettel made it to the final last year and should win this one.

 

Sebastien Loeb - Thierry Neuville

Tricky, tricky, tricky... I really feel for Neuville who obviously should be strong in this competition, but paired with Drugovich will make the Nations cup difficult, and then he gets drawn to face Loeb in the first round of the individual contest... Loeb also has the experience of racing these cars last year, so he should be the favourite.

 

Petter Solberg - Oliver Solberg

Father vs son. I'll apply the good ole contemporary-racers rule thing again and proclaim Oliver the (very slight) favourite here.

 

Johan Kristoffersson - Tanner Foust

Kristoffersson is one of the drivers I'm looking forward to seeing the most. Strong on all surfaces (I suppose) and with an axe to grind from last year.

 

Travis Pastrana - Mattias Ekström

Mattias was one of the strongest drivers last year and there's no reason to believe he'll be less strong this year. Another driver who's good in whatever vehicle/surface combination he's faced with. Still, Pastrana will probably not be a push-over.i

 

Quarter Finals:

 

Felipe Drugovich - Felix Rosenqvist

The versatility of Rosenqvist could take him quite far in this competition. Although both drivers are (as mentioned multiple times already) unknowns on snow.

 

Valtteri Bottas - Sebastian Vettel

I have to go with Valtteri on this one based on his rally experience, although Vettel was seriously impressive last year. Should be a close one...

 

Sebastian Loeb - Oliver Solberg

Can anyone beat Loeb? At anything?

 

Johan Kristoffersson - Mattias Ekström

Didn't they face off in the quarter final last year with Ekström the winner? If my memory serves me correctly I'll just re-hash that match-up here. Otherwise I'll consider that phantom memory a prophecy instead.

 

Semi finals:

 

Felix Rosenqvist - Valtteri Bottas

This one should go quite clearly to Bottas.

 

Sebastien Loeb - Mattias Ekström

Didn't they face off in the semi final last year with Loeb the winner? If my memory serves me correctly I'll just re-hash that match-up here. Otherwise I'll consider that phantom memory a prophecy instead.

 

Final:

 

Valtteri Bottas - Sebastien Loeb

Rule one: always bet on the rally driver. Rule two: within that sub-set; always bet on Loeb.

 

 

Ok, in doing this I realize that I'm essentially predicting a repeat of last year's event, with Team Norway claiming the Nations cup and Loeb winning the Race of Champions. Perhaps not the most exciting predictions, but that's life I suppose. Still, it should be a fun weekend with hopefully an upset or two on the cards.


Edited by Rediscoveryx, 27 January 2023 - 08:01.


#10 Dolph

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 09:52

The habitual loose definition of 'champion' in play as usual, I see.

 

 

I don't understand your problem. Organizing this has its own challenges:

 

- The organizers can't force people to show up. Racers like Ogier and Rovanperä were for sure invited.

- For the event to be sustainable, it has to carry recognizable names. Mick Schumacher is more appealing than for example Maximilian Götz or similar.



#11 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 10:03

I don't understand your problem. Organizing this has its own challenges:

- The organizers can't force people to show up. Racers like Ogier and Rovanperä were for sure invited.
- For the event to be sustainable, it has to carry recognizable names. Mick Schumacher is more appealing than for example Maximilian Götz or similar.


Also, hos many of these drivers have never won a championship?

#12 BRG

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 11:04

Also, hos many of these drivers have never won a championship?

I've won several championships, but I doubt anyone would consider they made me eligible for a Race of Champions (with a capital C),  The very first ever RoC featured eight World Rally Champions fighting it out.  Now we have Solberg jr and Tambay jr who have barely even troubled the headlines so far.  

 

As I said, it is a loose definition of 'champion' as has been the case for many years since this event started its decline.  But maybe, as Dolph implies, they cannot force people to come and have to make do with whatever they can scrape up.



#13 Myrvold

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 22:39

Team Norway - Team France

The unknown factor here is Adrien Tambay. I have no idea how well he'll take to racing on snow, but the other three are all more or less to be considered as specialists. As these contests generally are dependent on not having the weakest link in your team I'd say that the norwegians are favourites here.

 

Like all other French drivers with a famous surname that didn't emulate the success of the surname-holder(s) earlier, or French F1 drivers without super success in the late 80's to mid 90's (with the exception of Alain Prost). Tambay have done more than one year in the Andros Trophy ice racing ;)



#14 Myrvold

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 22:40

The very first ever RoC featured eight World Rally Champions fighting it out. 

 

And just a few years later Andrea Aghini won the whole thing.



#15 FirstnameLastname

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Posted 27 January 2023 - 23:26

It’s coulthards year.

#16 ANF

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Posted 28 January 2023 - 11:03

I think it's about to begin.

#17 jonpollak

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Posted 28 January 2023 - 12:58

You know I’m rooting against all the video game guys.
Jp

#18 Tiakumosan

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Posted 28 January 2023 - 13:03

You know I’m rooting against all the video game guys.
Jp

It worked :D

#19 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 28 January 2023 - 15:17

Oliver Solberg really impressed today (as did Neuville).

If I’m not mistaken, Oliver won all of his heats, beating the likes of Loeb, Neuville, Ekström and Kristoffersen.

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#20 ArnageWRC

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Posted 28 January 2023 - 17:19

It's the wrong time of the year - it needs to be about a month earlier.......when there's very little major motorsport happening. The same weekend as Daytona isn't good.....



#21 Silberpfeil

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 00:15

Oliver is obviously super fast, but I’m continually impressed by how well Petter is still doing against active drivers like Loeb, Kristoffersson and Ekström, considering he’s been more or less retired for almost half a decade now. Delighted with the Team Norway win and I still think this location is ace. A setting sun, snow and fast cars… what else do you want? Certainly beats some of the half-empty stadiums of the mid-2010s!

#22 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 05:52

A real shame that Loeb/Neuville will face off in the first round and that the winner then will face the fastest Solberg in the quarter final. Essentially, two of the three (likely) fastest drivers will be eliminated agead of the semis.

#23 TomNokoe

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 10:41

Why is it on snow again? Feels a little unfair.

#24 Elloh

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 11:27

Why is it on snow again? Feels a little unfair.

In their history since ´88 this is only the 2nd time they drive on snow. And it is just for fun, looking on social media people seem to take this event way to serious (and the word "champions")



#25 thegamer23

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 11:29

Quick Mick looking good so far



#26 Myrvold

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 12:03

Why is it on snow again? Feels a little unfair.


They had almost 20 years on asphalt... 2 years in a row on snow isnt exactly a crisis is it?

#27 TomNokoe

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 12:25

They had almost 20 years on asphalt... 2 years in a row on snow isnt exactly a crisis is it?

 


But it's also exactly the same course!

#28 IrvTheSwerve

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 13:00

In their history since ´88 this is only the 2nd time they drive on snow. And it is just for fun, looking on social media people seem to take this event way to serious (and the word "champions")

 

I take it for what it is - it's not really a serious competition...but a nice bit of fun to watch in the off-season. It's nice that we still have big names entering.

 

It would be nice to see a half-asphalt/half-gravel/mud circuit being used. This is pretty much built for a rally driver.



#29 Myrvold

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 13:14

But it's also exactly the same course!

 

Like the two of the three years in a row at Stade de France, or two in a row in London wasn't the same. Or the 12 years at Gran Canaria.

Regardless how you do it, it will not be "fair". But it's a heck of a lot better to have RoC outside on ice (or in Gran Canaria) than inside a stadium.

 

Tbh, I would rather have it at a bigger place, where you get some more speed and some extra differences in the cars, but it is one of the better RoC places.


Edited by Myrvold, 29 January 2023 - 13:15.


#30 TomNokoe

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 13:40

Mick doing great I have to say

#31 IrvTheSwerve

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 13:54

Ekstrom winning with a fire in the car, brilliant.  :lol:



#32 thegamer23

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 14:03

Mathias Ekstrom wins the final against Mick Schumacher!

 

 

Great post race interview, with Ekstrom getting emotional talking about Michael Schumacher

https://twitter.com/...696243059425280


Edited by thegamer23, 29 January 2023 - 14:03.


#33 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 14:09

Great show. Shame for Oliver with the crash (as he was probably the strongest-looking driver). Ekström the winner with three photo-finishes in total going his way. 🙂

Mick also impressed. He was quite weak last year but (just like in ”real life”) he seems to need to build-up to it. He put up a strong fight against Ekström.

Otherwise; honorable mentions to Thierry Neuville who was super-strong as well and Felipe Drugovich who took well to racing on snow/ice.

Edited by Rediscoveryx, 29 January 2023 - 14:16.


#34 ConsiderAndGo

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 15:16

Great event I have to say. Very entertaining!

Mick very competitive, surprisingly.

Edited by ConsiderAndGo, 29 January 2023 - 15:17.


#35 JG

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Posted 29 January 2023 - 17:53

Great event all weekend.

#36 Hrco42

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Posted 01 February 2023 - 09:25

Can I see full results somewhere? I tried googling it but I found only textual descriptions, I'd like to have the entire draw with the results



#37 Chick0

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Posted 02 February 2023 - 00:52

Great event I have to say. Very entertaining!

Mick very competitive, surprisingly.

 

 

"Surprisingly"?       Do you think an F2 champ who was also an F1 driver could not compete in a loose form of motorsport?   Was 2022 F2 champ Drugovich getting to finals in the Nations Cup also a surprise?  :drunk: 



#38 Rediscoveryx

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Posted 02 February 2023 - 05:25

"Surprisingly"? Do you think an F2 champ who was also an F1 driver could not compete in a loose form of motorsport? Was 2022 F2 champ Drugovich getting to finals in the Nations Cup also a surprise? :drunk:


Well, Mick competed last year as well and was immidiately eliminated, and if menory serves me correctly he wasn’t that impressive in the Nations cup last year either. Thus, expectations were muted this year but he was far more impressive this time around.

I think it in some sense is his career in microcosm. A slow start followed by rapid improvements. I don’t think it should be interpreted as a knock on him.