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Schedule, ticket prices for ROC released

By Chen Xiangfeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-18 10:18

The Race of Champions (ROC) organizing committee on Wednesday released the schedule and ticket prices for the Beijing event.

To get more Chinese fans involved, this year's ROC, taking place at the Bird's Nest from Nov 2 to 4, will see ticket prices as low as 100 yuan ($14.70) per day.

"ROC is not only an auto race but also a rare party for Chinese fans and drivers to experience," said a representative of the GreatGate company, which is organizing the race here. "We want to give as many people as possible the chance to see the event in the Bird's Nest. So we have to make sure even students can afford the price."

Tickets prices will range from 100 yuan to 2,800 ($410) for a box seat.

To spice up the event - a unique annual competition boasting superstars from F1, the World Rally Championship (WRC), NASCAR, sportscars and touring cars - the first day will feature local and international pop stars, Chinese Olympic champions and the top 16 domestic drivers. That will serve as an entertaining prelude to the official competition.

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"The first day will feature three interesting events - a race between pop stars and athletes, another between the Chinese drivers and the final challenge between drivers from home and abroad," said the GreatGate spokesman.

The home team's list includes singer, actor and professional race car driver Jimmy Lin Chih-Ying from Chinese Taipei, pop star Sun Nan, Olympic shooting champion Yang Ling and Chinese-Dutch driver Tung Ho-pin.

Seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher, current F1 leader Jenson Button, WRC icons Sebastien Loeb and Marcus Gronholm, Le Mans 24 Hours legend Tom Kristensen and World Touring Cars Championship (WTCC) champion Andy Priaulx lead the overseas charge.

After the fun opening day, competitors will get down to business in the ROC Nations Cup, which will feature drivers paired in teams based on their nationalities, and The Race of Champions, a straightforward knockout competition where drivers will go head-to-head until the champion is decided.

As hosts, China will send two drivers to compete for the Nations Cup against nine other countries while the top Chinese performer will challenge the world's best in the Race of Champions.

Started in 1988 by Fredrik Johnsson and Michele Mouton, the world's most successful female rally driver, the ROC has moved from venue to venue around the world. It had been held at Wembley Stadium in London for the past two years. China is the first non-European country to host the event.