The Race of Champions announced Friday that past IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden will reunite as teammates for the second straight year for the January 19-20 ROC in Mexico City.
Hunter-Reay (2012 IndyCar champion and 2014 Indianapolis 500 winner)) and Newgarden (2017 IndyCar champ) are the most recent American drivers to win IndyCar championships. They will once again make up the Team USA entry in the event.
They will be joined by three-time Indy 500 champion Helio Castroneves (now racing in IMSA for Team Penske) and previously announced 2019 Harding Steinbrenner Racing IndyCar rookie and defending 2018 Indy Lights champion Pato O’Ward, who hails from Mexico.
Another Mexican native who should be a fan favorite is 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champ Daniel Suarez.
Other drivers already announced include Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel and sports car legend Tom Kristensen.
But perhaps one of the most notable entries likely to draw more spectators to the event in-person as well as those watching on TV is FIA Formula 3 champ Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time F1 champion Michael Schumacher.
The ROC will take place inside the Foro Sol amphitheater, which abuts part of the annual F1 Mexican Grand Prix course at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 19: Andretti Autosport driver Ryan Hunter-Reay (28) of United States during driver introductions prior to the IndyCar Series ABC Supply 500 on August 19, 2018, at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, PA. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All contestants will compete in several types of identically prepared vehicles.
The two-day event will be broken down into a team or region competition on Jan. 19.
Then all drivers will go head-to-head and on their own on Jan. 20 to determine who will be the individual ROC champion.
Hunter-Reay will be making his sixth consecutive appearance in the ROC.
“It is a spectacular event and a unique challenge to jump in and out of all the different cars as you go head-to-head with some of the best drivers in the world,” Hunter-Reay said. “So it is a tremendous honor to be invited to compete again.
“I’m proud to represent America, IndyCar and the Indianapolis 500, and I look forward to hearing the noise of the crowds in Mexico City, where the passion for motorsport is huge.”
As for Newgarden, this will be his second ROC, having competed in last year’s event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“I’m excited about it,” Newgarden said. “It’s a fun event and it will be fun having it in North America.
“Ryan and I are trying to represent America but there’s some really tough competition again this year.
“There’s a strong Mexican contingent this time around and I’m sure their fans will be really pumped to cheer them on.”
No American driver has ever won the individual title in the ROC. However, NASCAR stars Jimmie Johnson and now-retired Jeff Gordon and now-retired motorcycle racer Colin Edwards won the Nation’s Cup title in 2002.
The ROC has been held since 1988 and has visited numerous venues around the globe including Beijing’s Bird’s Nest, London’s Wembley and Olympic stadiums, Miami’s Marlins Park and Paris’ Stade de France.
While other drivers may still be added before the event, drivers confirmed thus far are:
* 2017 IndyCar champ Josef Newgarden
* 2012 IndyCar champ Ryan Hunter-Reay
* 3-time Indy 500 winner Helio Castroneves
* 4-time F1 champ Sebastian Vettel
* 13-time F1 race winner David Coulthard
* European Formula 3 champion Mick Schumacher
* 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series champ Daniel Suarez
* 3-time Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner Memo Rojas
* 2018 Indy Lights champion Patricio O’Ward
* FIA PWRC champ Benito Guerra
* 9-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen
* 2-time World Rallycross champ Johan Kristoffersson
* 2016-17 Formula E champ Lucas di Grassi