eRace of Champions returns with Sydney trip and real-world competition up for grabs

The Race Of Champions event is back after a year’s hiatus, moving from the sub-zero frozen wilds of Sweden to the sun-baked Accor Stadium within the Sydney Olympic Park.

The competition will once again see some of the world’s best motorsport drivers battle side-by-side for an individual ‘Champions of Champions’ ROC title and also a team-based ‘World’s Fastest Nation’ crown.

Confirmed talent includes seven-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb, Extreme E champion Molly Taylor, seven-time rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson and four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel.

One sim racer will also be part of the competition, in real-world machinery, if they win the eRace Of Champions event.

Now somewhat of a tradition, virtual drivers can now take part in open qualifying, with a hot-lap leaderboard across two rounds determining which four will visit the Sydney event.

The first set of qualifiers is nearly complete, with a second, open to all, running between 19th and 23rd February.

Once there, they will fight it out for the eROC title, the winner then taking part alongside the aforementioned stars in the real-world competition.

Previously, this has seen some upsets – in 2028, eROC winner Enzo Bonito beat Formula E champion Lucas Di Grassi during the 2019 Mexican edition, while in 2022, Lucas Blakeley managed to be Vettel in a snowy round. The British driver is also the reigning, 2023, eROC title holder.

The quickest qualifier from Australia, Oceania, Asia and ‘the rest of the world’ will make up the final four sim racing competitors. The platform in use is once again a modified version of Assetto Corsa, although it was initially thought to be nascent platform The Last Garage.

The finals will run between 7th and 8th March 2025.