Race of Champions-Miami

For a few LEC members the 2017 season started off early. Several LEC members traveled to Miami for the Race of Champions. This is a very unique event pitting some of the best drivers in the world in head to head battles to determine "The Champion of Champions". In addition there was a team competition along with USA vs. The World. This was an exciting 3 days of activity. It also marks the 1st time ROC has been staged in the United States.

For those not familiar with the Race of Champions. This track was built inside Marlins Park, home of the Florida Marlins MLB Team. The track was essentially 2 car width wide inside the ball park. Each race was one lap with two cars that took the tack at the same time and had to cross over. A race lasted 37-40 seconds. The racing was either group heats or the best 2 out of 3.

There were 8 types of cars used during the weekend and all the drivers eventually had to race all of them. The cars were the ROC buggy (dune buggy), KTM X-Box, Vuhl 05, Ariel Atom, Radical SR3, Whelen NASCAR, RX Super Lites, Polaris Slingshot.

A few drivers in attendance were Tony Kanaan, Helio Castro-Neves, Alexander Rossi, Kurt and Kyl;e Busch, Ryan Hunter-Reay, James Hinchcliffe, Sebastian Vettel, Tom Kristensen, Travis Pastrana, Scott Speed, Pascal Wehrlein, Felipe Massa, Jenson Button, David Coulthard and few others that escpae my mind.

The competition was fierce but the drivers were having a blast. It was fun watching them in the driver change area. 

LEC members that made the trip were: Bill Armitage, Randy Holton, Kevin Young, Doug Miller, Robin Banks-Clemens,  and Bill Thompson

If the reports are true; ROC will be returning to Marlins Park in 2018.....if this true, I plan on returning.

Thanks to David Slaughter for some of the pictures.