Photo: ROC Media

Ekström wins the Race of Champions again

By

Mattias Ekström secured the Race of Champions title for the second consecutive year. After working his way through the qualifying rounds he beat none other than Michael Schumacher in the final.
“It didn’t start off so good but it turned out to be nice. At the end of the day, everybody wanted to win the Race of Champions. It was nice to come here and win in front of all these spectators. I have enjoyed this race every time I have done it,” said Ekström.

On his way to the win he met other touring car aces like Andy Priaulx. Despite taking his second straight win he never thought it was going to be easy.

“I think I wouldn’t say it was that easy, because all the guys who are here, if it is a seven-times F1 world champion or a four-times touring car champion, all of them are good. You have to get the rhythm going and then I think anyone can win. But the trick is to be sporting when it is hard to be.”

Just before the final race, ex multiple F1 champion Schumacher asked to swap cars, something Ekström was fine with.

“This happened to me last year also. You are driving a car and you feel it is not what you wish it to be. It it easy to feel like this when you are driving on the limit and you get beaten. So it was fair enough that we should change the cars. I drove the yellow one once and the red one once, and Michael did the same. We discussed it before and it was Michael’s proposal, and I am happy he asked me.”

Race of Champions 2007 results:

1/8 final 1 Schumacher vs. H.Solberg = Schumacher
1/8 final 2 Button vs. McRae = Button
1/8 final 3 Johnson vs. Bourdais = Bourdais
1/8 final 4 Coulthard vs. P.Solberg = Coulthard
1/8 final 5 Kovalainen vs. Vettel = Kovalainen
1/8 final 6 Priaulx vs. Muller = Priaulx
1/8 final 7 Ekström vs. Kristensen = Ekström
1/8 final 8 Grönholm vs. Pastrana = Pastrana
Quarter final 1 Schumacher vs. Button = Schumacher
Quarter final 2 Bourdais vs. Coulthard = Bourdais
Quarter final 3 Kovalainen vs. Priaulx = Priaulx
Quarter final 4 Ekström vs. Pastrana = Ekström
Semi final 1 Schumacher vs. Bourdais = Schumacher
Semi final 2 Priaulx vs. Ekström = Ekström
Final heat 1 Schumacher vs. Ekström = Ekström
Final heat 2 Ekström vs. Schumacher = Schumacher
Final heat 3 Schumacher vs. Ekström = Ekström