Formula One’s youngest new star Sebastian Vettel is teaming up with seven-time F1 Champion Michael Schumacher for The Race of Champions (ROC) when it takes over Wembley Stadium later this year. The Scuderia Toro Rosso rookie, who amazed the F1 paddock by finishing fourth in the recent Chinese Grand Prix, is a big ROC fan and cannot wait to compete in front of an expected 80,000 racing fans at Wembley this December.

“I have always watched The Race of Champions on TV every year and dreamed about participating one day,” said the 20-year-old, who was just four-years-old when his ROC teammate Schumacher made his F1 debut in 1991. “It’s fantastic to be invited; I’m so happy. To represent Team Germany together with Michael Schumacher is a great honour.”

Wembley will be transformed into a race track using 1,800 tonnes of tarmac for the 16 December event, allowing 18 star drivers to compete head-to-head in a series of knockout heats to determine the “Champion of Champions.”

There are two competitions: The Race of Champions, where drivers compete for individual glory, and The Nations Cup, where drivers partner-up to compete for their home country. Schumacher, who has never raced against Vettel, says he is pleased with the choice and is optimistic about Germany’s chances.

“I really look forward to teaming up with Sebastian for the Race of Champions,” said the seven-time F1 World Champion. “Finally we are in one team in motorsports as well, after having played charity-soccer together in the Nazionale Piloti in Italy. I have known Sebastian for a long time, having given him a trophy in a karting race when he was still a boy, and I remember being impressed by his drive. I still am, after his debut in F1 this year, and I am sure we will have a lot of fun together.”

The gladiatorial event is by invitation only and with drivers from F1, rally, NASCAR, Le Mans 24 and touring cars on the guest list the racing is set to be spectacular.

Drivers confirmed for 2007 include:

• Seven-time Formula One World Champion Michael Schumacher
• Formula One star Jenson Button
• Reigning World Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx
• Red Bull Racing’s David Coulthard
• Triple Champ Car Champion Sébastien Bourdais
• Seven-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen
• Former DTM Champion Mattias Ekström
• Reigning NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson
• Eight-time X-Games Champion Travis Pastrana
• Double World Rally Champion, Marcus Grönholm
• Renault F1’s Heikki Kovalainen

This traditional end-of-season showdown attracts spectators from across Europe. For three years the event, held at the Stade de France in Paris, has attracted well over 50,000 spectators each year.