The 2025 Race of Champions kicked off at the Accor Stadium in Sydney, Australia, delivering two days of exhilarating motorsport action.
Team France, led by Victor Martins and motorsport legend Sébastien Loeb, emerged victorious in the Nations Cup on Friday night, securing their country’s third title in the event’s history.
Loeb further cemented his legacy by winning a record-breaking fifth Champion of Champions title on Saturday, becoming the first driver to complete the double in the 33-year history of the event.
Nations Cup: France takes the crown
The opening day featured a fiercely contested Nations Cup, where ten teams battled head-to-head across six different car types. Divided into three groups, the competition saw Team France dominate Group A with a clean sweep of their duels, while Finland struggled without a single victory.
In Group B, Australia Supercars narrowly advanced after a thrilling 0.024-second finish between Louis Sharp and Toby Price. Team Germany and Team USA progressed from Group C despite some dramatic moments from Mick Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
The quarter-finals brought major surprises, with defending champions Team Norway suffering an unexpected defeat to the All Stars team of Johan Kristoffersson and Chaz Mostert.
Team France encountered a controversial moment when Victor Martins’ collision with the wall led to a penalty, initially awarding New Zealand the win. However, a determined Sébastien Loeb won the deciding duel, keeping France in contention.
Australia Supercars eliminated Team USA, while Team Germany overcame Australia Off-road to secure their place in the semi-finals.
France edged out the All-Stars team in the semi-finals after Martins capitalized on Johan Kristoffersson’s mistakes. Australia Supercars battled hard against Team Germany, with Brodie Kostecki securing a dramatic victory over Vettel to send his team to the final.
The final showdown between France and Australia Supercars saw thrilling battles, with the chicane on the tunnel removed to introduce a jump, adding even more excitement. Despite a strong start from Australia, Victor Martins held his nerve against Will Brown in the decisive duel, securing victory for Team France 21 years after their last triumph.
Champion of Champions: Loeb made history
On Saturday, the individual Champion of Champions title was up for grabs. Nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb showcased his incredible versatility and experience, securing his fifth ROC title and his first since 2022. In the final, Loeb faced Australian Supercars star Chaz Mostert, a late replacement for Mattias Ekström.
Loeb took an early lead by winning the first heat in a Polaris RZR by just 0.27 seconds. He then sealed the title with a razor-thin 0.16-second victory in the FC2 Rallycross car. His path to the final included dominant wins over Australian rally driver Molly Taylor in the quarter-finals and young rally sensation Oliver Solberg in the semi-finals.
Chaz Mostert delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament, eliminating top-tier competitors such as Valtteri Bottas, Kurt Busch, and four-time F1 champion Sebastian Vettel. He later overcame fellow Australian Will Brown in the semi-finals, ensuring an Australian presence in the final for the first time.
With this victory, Loeb became the first driver to win both the Nations Cup and the Champion of Champions title in the same event, further solidifying his status as one of the greatest motorsport drivers ever.
A memorable event in Sydney
The ROC 2025 in Sydney brought together 20 of the world’s top drivers from disciplines such as Formula 1, Le Mans, NASCAR, Supercars, World Rally, and Rallycross. The unique 1km asphalt track inside Accor Stadium delivered intense, side-by-side racing, with a variety of vehicles, including the FC2 Rallycross, Subaru BRZ tS, Supercar Lite Rallycross, KTM X-Bow Comp R, and Toyota GR86 Cup.
The Australian crowd was treated to a thrilling weekend of competition, culminating in a celebratory “shoey” from Brodie Kostecki, Will Brown, and Chaz Mostert. ROC co-founder and president Fredrik Johnsson praised the event’s success, highlighting Loeb’s historic achievement and the impressive performances of Australia’s debuting drivers.
Looking ahead
With Loeb’s record-breaking fifth title and France’s Nations Cup triumph, ROC 2025 will be remembered as a landmark event in motorsport history. As the Race of Champions continues to showcase the best of the best, fans eagerly await what the next edition will bring.
Feature Image Credit: @raceofchampions on X
