Romain Grosjean wins 2012 Race of Champions

Fernando Alonso’s best mate, Romain Grosjean, has capped off an awkward year with a smile after he won the 2012 Race of Champions, held in Bangkok over the weekend. Grosjean defeated Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen 2–nil in the best of three final.

The field of drivers included Australians Mick Doohan and Jamie Whincup, as well as Sebastian Vettel, Michael Schumacher, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Sebastien Ogier and Jorge Lorenzo.

Grosjean was thrilled to beat such an all-star cast. “Champion of Champions sounds pretty good. It certainly feels pretty special to end my year like this. It wasn’t an easy route to the crown either; I had Sebastian [Vettel] in the quarter-final then Michael [Schumacher] in the semi-final, then Tom Kristensen in the final,” he said. “Between those three drivers you’ve got ten Formula 1 titles and eight Le Mans wins!

“To win against these guys is very special indeed. It’s a really fabulous event and we received a fantastic welcome in Bangkok. It’s superb to be able to relax with so many different competitors from different disciplines and we all had a great time.”

Grosjean claimed individual honours after losing out to Germany in the Nations Cup final on Saturday. Grosjean and Sebastien Ogier, representing France, were no match for Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher, who collected their sixth consecutive Nations Cup trophy.

Heart of a Champion

2012/12/16

Romain Grosjean has been crowned the 2012 Champion of the Race of Champions after an emphatic performance in Bangkok.

Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher both failed to halt Romain’s march through the heats as he progressed through to the final against eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen in the event which pitches champions from the world of motorsport head-to-head against each other in a variety of machinery.

In a three-heat finale for the crown, the LotusF1 Team driver made the title certain with a win first in the ROC Buggy and next in the KTM X-Bow, meaning the crown was his without need for the final heat.

The win comes a day after Romain and Team France team-mate and 2011 Race of Champions Champion Sébastian Ogier came second to the Team Germany partnership of Vettel and Schumacher in the Race of Champions Nations Cup.

Romain Grosjean, 2012 Race of Champions Champion
“Champion of Champions sounds pretty good. It certainly feels pretty special to end my year like this. It wasn’t an easy route to the crown either ; I had Sebastian [Vettel] in the quarter-final then Michael [Schumacher] in the semi-final, then Tom Kristensen in the final. Between those three drivers you’ve got ten Formula 1 titles and eight Le Mans wins ! To win against these guys is very special indeed. It’s a really fabulous event and we received a fantastic welcome in Bangkok. It’s superb to be able to relax with so many different competitors from different disciplines and we all had a great time. It was great to see the support I received from fans at the event and online too, and this win goes out to them for supporting me in 2012. What a way to end my year, by winning my last competition of the season !”