“We wanted to make sure these stunt drivers could give the fans the best show possible. Having a dedicated area means they'll be able to be even more adventurous than previous years, and the fans were never disappointed then so this year will be amazing!”
Aside from the special anniversary celebration, this year's event will also mark a rather different occasion, as it commemorates the life of
Colin McRae, a regular supporter of the
Race of Champions and former winner. Johnsson said the tribute would be a fitting legacy to the much-loved and missed former
World Rally Champion.
“Because this year marks our 20th anniversary, when we finished the race in Paris last year we were looking for the perfect venue,” he explained. “Wembley is the most legendary stadium in the world, so in the end it was an easy decision to come here. Then everything changed in September, when
Colin McRae, his son Johnny and two friends tragically died.
“Colin competed in the
Race of Champions for the first time in 1991, and he was already in the finals the following year! Then in 1998 he won the event after beating his brother Alister in the final in Gran Canaria. We all miss him incredibly, and we felt it would be far more appropriate to hold a tribute to him this year rather than celebrate the anniversary.
“We wanted to include a moment of silence, but his family said 'no, we don't think that corresponds to Colin. He wouldn't have wanted that – he was all about action and fun.' So we will remember him the way he would want to be remembered.”
“The last time I saw the stadium there was a football pitch down!” added Wembley's marketing and commercial director Jonathan Gregory, who expects to see an attendance of some 80,000 people on 16 December. “I came out to see it this morning and was amazed – it's fantastic. We hold American football, soccer and rugby league here of course, but motor racing is very new to the stadium. We are very excited and very proud to be holding the event here.”
