Barbados circuit to host Race of Champions

Barbados will host the Race of Champions when the event returns to the motorsport calendar at the Caribbean island’s Bushy Park circuit in December.

The annual race meeting, which pitches drivers from around the motorsport spectrum against each other in identical cars, was cancelled last year due to political unrest in host nation Thailand.

However, race organisers are able to confirm the event will return to its rally routes this year by taking place at the permanent Bushy Park circuit on December 13-14.

The inaugural Race of Champions was held at Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands before moving to sporting stadiums in London, Paris, Dusseldorf, Beijing and Bangkok over the last 10 years.

The Bushy Park circuit, which fended off competition from various venues including England’s Ricoh Arena and Sweden’s Friend’s Arena to secure the event, hosted a round of the Global Rallycross championship this season.

“As for 2014, the Bushy Park Circuit was one of the most popular venues in our vote and we are very excited to be heading to Barbados as we assemble some of the world’s greatest drivers for another festival of motor sport and entertainment,” said ROC organiser Fredrik Johnsson.

“Hosting ROC at a circuit marks a break from our last 10 years of stadium events but this is a throwback to our long-time home at Gran Canaria, which hosted the Race Of Champions from 1992 to 2003.

“We will certainly return to stadium events in the future but for 2014 we will take advantage of the available space to build a truly spectacular ROC parallel track at Bushy Park.

“We now look forward to seeing a packed house for a guaranteed weekend of thrills in December.”

Australia has sent drivers to compete in the showpiece event since 2009, with multiple motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan and five-time V8 Supercars champion Jamie Whincup heading up Team Australia at the last event in 2012.