Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves and 2016-2017 Formula E Champion Lucas di Grassi have become the latest drivers confirmed to compete at the Race Of Champions – on January 19-20, 2019 at the Foro Sol, the amphitheatre forming part of Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Formula 1 circuit.
Castroneves and di Grassi will join forces for Team Brazil, competing against a field featuring Formula 1 legends Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard, ‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen, reigning FIA World Rally X Champion Johan Kristoffersson plus FIA F3 European Champion Mick Schumacher and Mexican racers Memo Rojas, Daniel Suárez, Benito Guerra and Patricio O’Ward.
Helio Castroneves is one of the greatest drivers in the history of IndyCar. He became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 back-to-back in his first two starts at the Brickyard in 2001 and 2002, then he took a third win in 2009 for good measure. He took a total of 30 IndyCar wins and finished as the IndyCar Series runner-up four times prior to his retirement last year. The Brazilian now races in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and he remains well known outside of motor sport for his triumph in the 2007 American TV Series Dancing with the Stars.
His record at the Race Of Champions is strong too, having reached the final of the ROC Nations Cup earlier this year in Riyadh in partnership with Juan Pablo Montoya for Team Latin America (see picture below) Now he will aim to go one step further for Team Brazil alongside his new team-mate Lucas di Grassi.
Castroneves said: “The Race Of Champions is a tremendous event which gives us the chance to race in different places and different cultures, so it’s a big honour to be invited back again. The cool thing about this event is that every driver has a chance, no matter what they’re used to racing. The variety of cars means there’s something suited to everyone, whether they race in open-wheelers, Rally X or NASCAR. So it really is all about the talent. I really look forward to putting on a great show for all the fans in Mexico City and I’m sure the atmosphere will be amazing.”