The Layout of the 2009 Race of ChampionsTheBeijing National Stadium, is the venue for the 2009 Race of Champions.
The2009 Race of Champions was the 22nd running of themotorsport event, on November 3–4, 2009 at theBeijing National Stadium inBeijing, China. It was the first time that the event took place outside of Europe and Africa. It was the first international sports event to be held in the"Bird's Nest" stadium since the2008 Summer Olympics.The event was moved from a weekend to a midweek slot for the first time. The RoC Nations Cup was held on Tuesday, November 3, just two days after the2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the climax of the2009 Formula One season at theYas Marina Circuit, with the Driver's Cup being contested on Wednesday 4, November.[1]
The new dates affected the United States and Australia most, since it meant drivers from those countries' popular saloon-car series (V8 Supercar andNASCAR Sprint Cup Series) could not take part.Jamie Whincup ofTriple Eight Race Engineering was originally selected to participate but could not because of the schedule, so two motorcyclists were used on the team. In the past, the United States team has used Nationwide Series championCarl Edwards, and four-time Sprint Cup Series championJeff Gordon andJimmie Johnson. TwoX Games stars andRally America drivers were chosen.
For the first ever time, regional finals were held to determine which nations will take part in Beijing. The first of these regional finals was forSouth Europe, featuringPortugal,Spain,Monaco andItaly. It was held in theEstádio do Dragão, the home ofF.C. Porto on 6/7 June.
Dragon Stagium's pitch converted into a race track for theROC 2009 Southern Europe Regional Final.
The Spanish pairing of Sainz and Sordo faced the Italian pairing of former World Rally championMiki Biasion and current WRC driverGigi Galli in the first semi-final. Spain won by three heats to nil. The Portuguese pairing of Albuquerque and Araujo faced Monaco, featuring A1GP driverClivio Piccione andLe Mans 24 Hours winnerEmanuele Pirro, who although born in Italy, has been a resident of Monaco for over 22 years. After four of five heats the score was balanced at 2–2, before Piccione beat Albuquerque by one ten thousandth of a second, the narrowest margin of victory in Race of Champions history. The Monegasque pairing beat the Spanish pair by three heats to one in the final to send Monaco through to the main event in November.[2]
Jamie Whincup originally was confirmed to participate, but later withdrew due to a scheduling conflict with theV8 Supercars Championship.Chad Reed took his place.
The two fastestChinese drivers in the ROC China Challenge would represent their nation in the Nations Cup.
.jpg)
All-Stars
Australia
China
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Monaco
Scandinavia
United States
United States