Sébastien Loeb at the Race of Champions meeting in Sydney

The Frenchman was crowned "Champion of Champions" in 2003, 2005 (at home at the Stade de France), 2008 and 2022, when the event took place on snow and ice in Sweden. Also a winner on clay during his first title and then twice in stadiums, Sébastien Loeb has seen it all on the RoC, including a victory in the Nations Race alongside Jean Alesi in 2004. A fifth success in 2025 would allow him to take sole control of the wins standings, as he currently shares the lead with Didier Auriol and Mattias Ekström, who have also won the cup four times.

“I’m looking forward to competing in the first ever Race Of Champions in Australia”, Loeb said. "I won the Rally Australia once, and I have so many great memories of the Race of Champions, especially winning on home soil in 2005. I'm quite good at adapting to different types of cars and circuits, so my goal is of course to try and win my fifth title, when the event returns to a big stadium."

Hayden Paddon also in the game

The 2025 edition will take place at the Accor Stadium in Sydney. The stadium can accommodate up to 83 people and promises a high-energy atmosphere. Rally driver Hayden Paddon will also be making the trip as a neighbor, since he is a native of New Zealand. The one we saw in particular at Hyundai en WRC is a double European Rally Champion and is invited for the first time to the Race of Champions, and there will be a New Zealand team for the first time in the Nations Cup.

“To compete in the Race of Champions and especially to represent New Zealand’s premier team in the RoC is a dream come true for me. It’s a real honour to be able to represent New Zealand and compete against some of the best. New Zealand has always excelled in world motorsport and this will be an opportunity for me and whoever my team-mate is to fly the New Zealand flag on the international stage.”

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