The season-ending event will again take place for the second year on a snow and ice circuit laid out on the frozen Baltic Sea. The date of the 2023 Race of Champions will be on January 28 and 29.
Last winter, the Race of Champions headed to the seaside resort of Pite Havsbad for the first time, with WRC legend Sébastien Loeb beating F1 driver Sebastian Vettel to claim the individual Champion of Champions trophy .
Sebastian Vettel, also a past winner and six-time Race of Champions Nations Cup champion , will return to racing in the Arctic Circle and is one of the top six drivers announced on Wednesday.
It will be the German’s first participation in competition after his imminent retirement from Formula 1 at the end of the year.
“I can’t think of a better venue for my first race after retiring from Formula 1 than the Race of Champions,” said Vettel.
“This will be my 11th participation, and I keep coming back because it’s a special event, and a lot of fun.”
“I don’t have much experience racing on snow and ice, so it was a very steep learning curve earlier this year in Sweden, and a very pleasant surprise to get to the individual final against Loeb.”
“Now I’m looking forward to going back and giving Race of Champions-style ice racing another chance and hopefully helping the German team win another Nations Cup title.”
Vettel will once again face Mika Hakkinen, a fan favorite at this year’s edition.
“I contested the Race of Champions for the first time earlier this year and I am delighted to be back again,” said the 1998 and 1999 world champion with McLaren.
“This event has a great atmosphere, it’s fantastic to meet so many great drivers and everyone in the organization does a great job.”
“I’ve done the Arctic Rally several times, so at least I’ve driven on ice before. I hope that helps me this time…”
This year’s Nations Cup winners Petter Solberg and Oliver Solberg will defend their title after the Norwegian team ‘s father-and-son pair defeated Team USA ‘s Jimmie Johnson and Colton in the 2022 final ( see it again here).
Four-time world rally champion Johan Kristoffersson is also on his way home after losing to compatriot Mattias Ekstrom in the quarter-finals.
Jamie Chadwick, who is on course for his third consecutive W Series title, will also contest his second Race of Champions.
More drivers will be added to the list in the coming weeks and months.
