F1's Nico Hulkenberg joins Sebastian Vettel for Race of Champions

The Force India F1 driver, who won at Le Mans with Porsche in June, will join forces with Vettel to represent Team Germany in London's Olympic stadium, before competing in the individual Race of Champions tournament on the second day of the November 20-21 event.

Hulkenberg said he was honoured to be replacing Vettel's previous long-term RoC team-mate Michael Schumacher, who won the Nations' Cup title six times with the current Ferrari F1 racer before suffering serious injuries in a skiing accident in 2013.

"I've always wanted to take part but it never worked out so now I'm really happy and looking forward to it," said Hulkenberg.

"I'm obviously stepping into big shoes to replace Michael Schumacher, which is a huge honour as well.

"The cars are all quite different so I don't really know what to expect.

"But I guess I'll get dumped into the cold water and then I'll have to figure out how to swim."

Vettel added: "It's obviously very sad that Michael can't join us again but in his absence it's great to have Nico as a partner on Team Germany this year.

"I have massive respect for what he did in the Le Mans 24 Hours - to win it on his first attempt is very impressive.

"The Race of Champions is at the other end of the scale in terms of distance but I can assure Nico we push just as hard."

Race of Champions president Fredrik Johnsson said Hulkenberg was overdue an appearance at the head-to-head event.

"If Nico was from any other country he would have made his RoC debut long before now, but of course Team Germany has long been about Michael and Seb," he said.

"Everyone at RoC is sad that Michael will be missing as he continues his recuperation from his skiing accident but Nico is a first-rate replacement."