Real Racing World: ROC 2009 highlights: Race of Champions

Swedish DTM driver Mattias Ekström has won the 2009 Race of Champions by defeating seven-time F1 world champion Michael Shumacher 2-0 in the final at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Double DTM champion Ekstrom beat newly-crowned F1 World Champion, Jenson Button, in the semi-finals and eight time Le Mans 24 Hour winner, Tom Kristensen, in the quarter finals, having already won his group. 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.

"It’s a very special day for me, because I had a year with not much luck," said Ekstrom. "So to end it by beating Michael Schumacher in this is fantastic."

This is Ekström’s third Champion of Champions (RoC) victory having won the event back in 2006 and ‘07.

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.

“I look across at Michael on the start line and I think ‘why should I beat him? His driving his spotless’.  A tenth of a second here and there isn’t a lot but sometimes it is enough and driving against Michael is always a pleasure. I always pretend to be thinking about whether to come to The Race of Champions or not but actually I’m never thinking about it.”
 
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.”
 
F1 World Champion Jenson 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, losing to Schumacher.
 
Full results can be found at www.raceofchampions.com