Formula 1 racer Pierre Gasly and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Loïc Duval have become the latest drivers to sign up for the Race Of Champions – on January 19-20, 2019 at the Foro Sol, the iconic stadium section forming part of Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Formula 1 circuit.
Gasly and Duval will also join forces for Team France, competing against a mighty field featuring F1 legends Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard, ‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen, triple Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves, IndyCar champions Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden, reigning World RallyX Champion Johan Kristoffersson, Formula E Champion Lucas di Grassi plus F3 European Champion Mick Schumacher and Mexican racers Memo Rojas, Daniel Suárez, Benito Guerra and Patricio O’Ward.
Pierre Gasly is one of the hottest properties in global motorsport right now, having just secured a move to leading Formula 1 team Red Bull Racing-Honda for 2019. The Frenchman earned the switch after sealing the GP2 series in 2016 and making an impressive start to his F1 career with Red Bull Racing’s sister team Toro Rosso.
Now Gasly (pictured below in action during testing for his new team in Abu Dhabi last November) has also earned his first invitation to compete at the Race Of Champions next weekend in Mexico City.
Gasly said: “It’s a big honour to be taking part in the Race Of Champions for the first time. I’ve known about the event for many years, and I’m excited to see how it works first-hand at last. I know France has a rich tradition of driving success at the event so I’m looking forward to aiming for another strong performance in partnership with Loïc in the ROC Nations Cup. Most of all I’m looking forward to hearing the noise of the Mexican crowds. I know the Foro Sol well from Formula 1, it’s a spectacular venue and we will all put on a great show for the fans.”
Loïc Duval has had an impressive career of his own, taking him to series ranging from DTM to Formula E. But his finest hour to date came at the 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours (pictured below) when he took victory for Audi alongside Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen, who is also in the field for next weekend’s ROC Mexico. The trio also went on to seal that year’s World Endurance Championship.
Now Duval will be making his own Race Of Champions debut in Mexico City, and he will also have the chance to team up with Gasly for Team France in the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday 19 January.
Duval added: “I’ve watched the Race Of Champions for years, and I’ve always been hoping I’d get a chance to have a go for myself. Now it’s happening for real, I can’t wait to take on all these great drivers from motorsport series all over the world – not least in the ROC Nations Cup for Team France alongside Pierre. The event looks like an amazing experience and I’m sure the atmosphere at the Foro Sol will be special. Roll on next weekend…”