Rosenqvist, Neuville, Drugovich join Race of Champions Sweden roster
IndyCar race winner Felix Rosenqvist, WRC frontrunner Thierry Neuville and 2022 FIA F2 champion Felipe Drugovich are among the latest batch of names confirmed for next month's 2023 Race of Champions in Sweden.
ROC returns to the Pite Havsbad resort in the north of Sweden on January 28-29 to race on a track drawn on the frozen Baltic Sea, a new snow and ice-based formula which was well received earlier this year.
Rosenqvist, Neuville and Drugovich will make their Race of Champions debuts near the Arctic Circle, with event veterans Tom Kristensen and David Coulthard also added to the line-up.
They join the already confirmed Sebastian Vettel, Mika Hakkinen, Valtteri Bottas, Jamie Chadwick, Johan Kristoffersson as well as Petter and Oliver Solberg.
That means the ROC 2023 line-up features names from F1, F2, IndyCar, Le Mans, W Series, World Rally Championship and World Rallycross, with more names to be announced in the run up to ROC's second visit to Sweden.
"I’m thrilled to finally make my debut in the Race of Champions," said Arrow McLaren IndyCar driver Felix Rosenqvist, who is renowned for his ability to handle a wide variety of cars after excelling in Formula E and sportscars.
"It’s an event I’ve followed throughout my childhood all the way until today, and I actually attended it once at Wembley with my dad a few years ago.
"I have always enjoyed the challenge of driving different cars, and my career has been largely shaped by that curiosity, so I’m tremendously excited to try out the ROC platform and to do so in front of my home fans in Sweden.”
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
Five-time WRC runner-up Neuville, who joins the fold off the back of his win in 2022's Japan season finale, added: "It’s a race I have always wanted to do and I’m really looking forward to competing on snow and ice on the frozen Baltic Sea alongside motorsport legends.
"Driving on that kind of surface promises to be a lot of fun and I hope I can use my experience from Rally Sweden to perform at the top."
Aston Martin F1 reserve driver Drugovich, who sealed the 2022 F2 title, said: "It’s an amazing opportunity to get to race against so many big names at the Race of Champions.
"It will be tough for me going from asphalt to racing on snow and ice for the first time, but I will try to learn as quickly as possible. Whatever happens it will be a lot of fun and a fantastic experience."
Event staples Kristensen and Coulthard hailed ROC's camaraderie between the drivers as a key reason to keep returning, with Kristensen in line for a record 17th appearance.
"What brings me back to the Race of Champions year after year is the camaraderie between the drivers. It’s been a privilege to go up against legends from so many different fields of motorsport over the years, and many future stars too," said Coulthard.
"[Last time] it was Kristensen who knocked me out, but thanks to the whole spirit of ROC you race hard but you don’t get bitter when you lose. That won’t stop me wanting to get him back in January though…”
Magazine: F1 2022 review, top 10 F1 drivers, and more
Andy Hallbery obituary: Former Autosport editor dies aged 56
Vandoorne: Efforts to avoid leading Sao Paulo E-Prix "quite dangerous"
Vandoorne: Efforts to avoid leading Sao Paulo E-Prix "quite dangerous" Vandoorne: Efforts to avoid leading Sao Paulo E-Prix "quite dangerous"
Mir penalised for Quartararo clash in Portugal MotoGP sprint race
Mir penalised for Quartararo clash in Portugal MotoGP sprint race Mir penalised for Quartararo clash in Portugal MotoGP sprint race
Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash
Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash Dennis critical of "plonker" Ticktum after Sao Paulo E-Prix clash
Tech3 won't replace injured Espargaro for next two MotoGP rounds
Tech3 won't replace injured Espargaro for next two MotoGP rounds Tech3 won't replace injured Espargaro for next two MotoGP rounds
How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever
How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever How a timely change of chassis transformed Formula 3 forever
The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad
The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad The 2022 Autosport Awards winner using Esports as a launchpad
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right The plug in and play stand-ins who got their timing just right
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past
Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return
Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return Why romanticism isn't the key factor in Lola’s racing return
Rating the best drivers of the century so far
Rating the best drivers of the century so far Rating the best drivers of the century so far
The best motorsport moments of 2021
The best motorsport moments of 2021 The best motorsport moments of 2021
The racing comeback artists who resurrected long-dormant careers
The racing comeback artists who resurrected long-dormant careers The racing comeback artists who resurrected long-dormant careers
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.