FIA ETCR eTouring Car World Cup competitor Mattias Ekström has secured a record-equalling fourth individual win in the Race of Champions which took place in Pite Havsbad in Sweden over the past weekend.
Ekström defeated F1-racer Mick Schumacher in the event which pitched competitors against each other in a knockout format using a variety of vehicles, inclusing CUPRA’s electric concept car, the UrbanRebel.
The winner of FIA ETCR’s predecessor PURE ETCR in 2021, Ekström won the Race of Champions in 2006, 2007 and 2009, with the 2007 and 2009 wins seeing him beat Mick’s father, Michael.
Now with four Race of Champion wins, Ekström shares the record of most wins in the event with Frenchmen Sébastien Loeb and Didier Auriol.
“The Race Of Champions has meant a lot to me in my career,” said Ekström.
“It’s very special to have four wins and even more special to do it in Sweden. I won my first final at the Stade de France in Paris against Sébastien Loeb, then I had two finals with Michael Schumacher in London and Beijing, so to see Mick in the final today was very emotional for me.
“This is even more special than winning; Michael’s always been one of the guys I admire most in the sport, for his dedication, hard work and talent. I only got to know Michael at the Race Of Champions. We had many battles and I have only great memories with Michael from this event. I’m super proud because Mick also rode with me on Friday in the Dakar car and we had a nice time.
“Michael was always humble with me and I can see Mick is also very humble. Mick is such a huge talent and his time is ahead of him, so I look forward to more battles in the future. I know it won’t take long until I get beaten, but against Mick I would have no problem with finishing second.”
