THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN: The Race of Champions

Since 1988 The Race of Champions has invited the best in all the world motorsport series to compete in a unique event where the competitors all drive a range of identical cars in different conditions. The event has been dominated by rally drivers, with their all-round abilities on different surfaces and ability to quickly adapt to new cars - this year though, the event has attracted reigning Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher.

Schumacher will front up in Paris on December 4-5 to take on newly crowned World Rally Champion, Sebastien Loeb, who is also the reigning Race of Champions title holder, having beaten fellow rally-ace Marcus Gronholm to the title last year.

The event will be held in front of 60,000 spectators and on TV in 198 countries in the massive Stade de France in Paris, on a special race track.

The competition cars include the Citroen Xsara WRC that not only took Loeb to his title but which has also gifted the manufacturer's title to Citroen for two years in succession, as well as the Ferrari 360 Modena Challenge, the 400 bhp racing version of the top road-going Ferrari, and the ROC-Car, the Rally Raid buggy built specifically for the Race of the Champions.

"It is not often that rally drivers and racing drivers get a chance to compete against each other, and on a neutral track, said Loeb. "It will make a great show. Rally drivers are very adaptable because of all the surfaces we use, but the F1 drivers are very precise. It will be exciting."

In addition to Loeb, the rally world will be represented by legend Colin McRae, who is partnered in the UK team by F1's David Coulthard, and double world rally champion Marcus Gronholm. NASCAR is sending two of its most competitive drivers, champion Jeff Gordon and regular race winner Jimmie Johnson, who took his 5th victory of the season at Loewes Motorspeedway this month.

"In this Olympic year, this is our chance to compete for our country," said Gordon, driver of the No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "The atmosphere surrounding the event is relaxed and fun, but every driver who straps on a helmet wants to win. In this case, we want to win for ourselves and for our country." Click to view larger image Gret arena action

"Jeff (Gordon), Colin (Edwards) and I had a blast in 2002 and when the opportunity presented itself for Jeff and me to go back and compete for Team USA, we just couldn't pass it up," said Johnson, driver of the No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series. "Fredrik (Johnsson, president of International Media Productions) continues to bring together the best drivers in the world. We're looking forward to the challenge and we hope to regain the Nation's Cup."

"This event has the opportunity to become a point of international focus without parallel in motorsports, and its potential for growth in the U.S. is remarkable," said Jim Hancock, event promoter in the U.S. "With Gordon and Johnson on board, the 75 million fans of NASCAR now have the chance to see their best drivers go head-to-head with the world's best." French spectators will also have another local hero to cheer on. Former Ferrari F1 driver and Mercedes-Benz DTM Touring Car ace Jean Alesi is Loeb's partner in the French team for the Nations Cup - a multinational competition for pairs of racing and rally drivers to challenge rival countries over a series of races.

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