Wembley Stadium to host all-star motor race

Trackside’s Keith Collantine sampled a flat-out lap of the Race of Champions circuit where David Coulthard, Jenson Button and Michael Schumacher will take each other on.

It’s every football-loving school boy’s dream: the double doors marked ‘Players’ Tunnel’, a short walk up a ramp, and suddenly I’m standing in the middle of Wembley Stadium.

But today its famed turf is hidden from view. Because the Race of Champions is in town, and a specially-constructed asphalt racing track standards where the pitch should be.

This weekend Wembley will play host to racing drivers instead of football fans. And some of the biggest names in motor sport will take each other on in the 90,000-capacity arena.

How big? Try Michael Schumacher for starters – the seven-times Formula 1 world champion. Sebastien Loeb, fresh from his fifth consecutive World Rally Championship win, will be out to score his third win in the RoC.

Racing for Britain are four times World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx, F1 stars David Coulthard and Jenson Button, and former British Touring Car champion Jason Plato.

Reigning F1 champion Lewis Hamilton will take on Olympic gold medal winner Chris Hoy in a special handicap race: while Hamilton pilots a Mercedes racing car, Hoy will lap the track on his bike. Later on Sunday the pair face each other in the nominations for BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

I was taken on a lap of the circuit where the action takes place this Sunday – see the video below for a tour of the track and interviews with Chris Hoy and Jason Plato.

Should Lewis Hamilton win Sports Personality of the Year? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog