Three time ROC 'Champion of Champions' Mattias Ekström is making his return to the Race of Champions event this year, with the two time DTM champion aiming for more success after missing out on last year's competition.
A date clash meant the Swede missed out last year, but he is returning to compete Düsseldorf's ESPRIT arena against the best race drivers in the world, including German stars Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Ekström has an incredible record in the event, reaching at least one final in every year he has competed, starting with the ROC Nations Cup in 2005, which he won with Tom Kristensen. He's won the 'Champion of Champions' in Paris in 2006, London in 2007 and Beijing in 2009.
Ekström said: “I have many happy memories from the Race Of Champions so I'm delighted to be returning this year. I was born in the Swedish countryside and drove lots of different cars as a boy, while I've since been lucky to race many good touring cars, sportscars and rally cars. That's what helps me at this event and I've had some good results, beating Michael Schumacher in two Grand Finals and Sébastien Loeb in another. Driving in such lofty company is always a huge pleasure so the event has become a major highlight of my season. It was hard to have to watch the action from afar in 2010 so it didn't take me long to agree to come back.”
Race organiser Fredrik Johnsson added: “Mattias is one of the most successful drivers in the history of the Race Of Champions, with three overall titles in the last five years. That means it is always important for us to have him in the field – and he will again start as one of the favourites for success in 2011. Rest assured that even the very biggest names from F1 and world rally will want to avoid him in the draw come December in Düsseldorf.”
