Two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom is the latest driver to sign up to compete in The 2009 Race of Champions, at the Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing on November 3-4.

Fellow DTM driver and eight-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen has also announced he will be competing, and together they will form a formidable pairing in The ROC Nations Cup, as Team Scandinavia.

The duo have represented Scandinavia in the event for the past four years, winning the ROC Nations Cup in 2005, when they defeated France, and then narrowly missing out on a double last year in the final against Team Germany's Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.

Ekstrom and Kristensen are now looking forward to November - and the chance to exact revenge and seize back the ROC Nations Cup.

“We can't wait to race against Michael and Sebastian again, as we were disappointed they got the better of us at Wembley. The Bird's Nest is a fantastic place for this year's event and a brilliant way for us to finish the season,” said Ekstrom, who has scored consistently in the DTM this year for Audi Sport Team Abt.

Kristensen is similarly excited by the prospect. “It's a great event that I always enjoy being part of: fun, relaxed and professional,” he continued. “Racing with Mattias, we have a pretty good track record and I'm really looking forward to competing in Beijing for the first time.”

Fredrik Johnsson, president of event organisers IMP, meanwhile is thrilled to welcome on board another two drivers with exceptional pedigree.

“Scandinavia has provided many finalists and winners in both the individual and team events at The Race of Champions over the years, and we expect this pair once again to compete for the top-spot on both days at the Bird's Nest,” he summed-up.