Race of Champions 2023 introduced a couple of surprises on Saturday. Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher suffered early setbacks in Sweden final yr, however each superior to the semi-finals in 2023, after they finally needed to concede defeat to the all-star team of Thierry Neuville and Felipe Drugovic.
In the finish, Norway took the crown at the 2023 Nations Cup. Petter Solberg and Oliver Solberg received the Nations Cup for the second yr in a row by defeating the All Stars in the ultimate! “I do not know what to say, it is a terrific feeling,” mentioned a cheerful Oliver Solberg after the victory.
However, one other Formula 1 duo of Valtteri Bottas and two-time world champion Mika Heckin needed to admit defeat early on. In qualifying for the quarter finals, two Finnish sim racing champions, Lukas Blakely and Jarno Opmer, had been unable to compete towards Team eRoc.
Advance to the quarter-finals: Germany on, Finland out
At the starting of the day, the choice for the quarter-finals started. While most of the groups certified in this spherical, Team Finland, eRoc, Germany and Great Britain needed to combat for the final two remaining spots.
The process that didn’t go in response to plan for the Finnish duo of Bottas and Hekkinen is stunning. Lucas Blakely was in a position to give a transparent sign from the begin with a transparent win towards Bottas. Hekkinen additionally had a match level after two rounds after shedding the second bout towards Opmer. Bottas beat Oppmer and misplaced immediately, but it surely was Hekkinen who did not see the floor towards Blakely. Team Finland misplaced to team eRoc 1:3.
On the different hand, issues had been good for the German team. Jamie Chadwick and David Coulthard couldn’t sustain with Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher. Even after Coulthard’s quick tour to the different lane, Team Great Britain misplaced 0-4 to the German duo, who had been compelled to play towards Team eRoc in the quarter-finals.
Quarter-final: Vettel beat final yr’s winner
The Norwegian team and the French team: The prestigious combat between Sebastian Loeb and Petter Solberg is approaching. Both rally legends should hit the snow and ice that Solberg can deal with. In the subsequent combat, Oliver Solberg was in a position to safe the second level when Adrien Tambay swerved from the bridge. Solberg ought to beat Senior Tambay and regulate the semi-final.
Swedish team and Nordic team: At the similar time, a combat between the Swedish team and the Nordic team came about. Local hero Johan Kristoffersson takes the first level towards Tom Christensen. As a end result, Felix Rosenqvist additionally did not get factors from Matthias Ekström, and the third spherical on snow and ice additionally went to the Swedish team, so the semi-finals got.
Team USA vs Team All Stars: With WRC driver Thierry Neuville ready for Travis Pastrana and Tanner Foust, the Americans had nothing to cover. Contrast: Although Neuville received the first combat, Pastrana, the four-time rally champion of the USA, was in a position to equalize instantly. But it was robust for Team USA when Foust needed to face Felipe Drugovic. Foust made a cease in the center of the subject, then Neuville blocked the sack towards Pastrana.
Team Germany and Team eRoc: For Vettel, it was a showdown towards the eRoc team. In 2022, Heppenheimer was compelled to sensationally give up to Lucas Blakely. So, it is time to make amends this yr. Vettel did the similar: Blakely hit the boundaries on his first lap, permitting Vettel to complete. Opmer could not maintain a candle to Mick Schumacher both, permitting the German team to take an early 2-0 lead. Then when Blakely made a mistake towards Schumacher and went over the board, it was solely a matter of type for Germany to achieve the semi-finals!
Semi-final: Vettel misses his likelihood
Norwegian team and Swedish teamIt was a Nordic assembly. Match to have all of it: Petter Solberg first performed towards Kristoffersson, towards whom he drew the quick straw. As a end result, Oliver Solberg was in a position to equalize the rating, however Sweden hit again: Petter Solberg, in his try towards Ekström, failed to finish the ultimate nook accurately, shedding solely a thousandth of a second. When Oliver Solberg beat Kristofferson again, victory went to Norway as they had been forward on time distinction.
Team Germany and the All-Star TeamThere was a minor sensation for Germany: Vettel misplaced to Thierry Neuville at the begin, however Mick Schumacher was in a position to revive his possibilities of reaching the ultimate by beating Felipe Drugovic. Vettel was additionally profitable towards the Brazilian, however Heppenheimer jumped the begin and acquired a 5-second penalty, in the end giving Team All Stars some extent. Schumacher could not do a lot towards Neuville, and Germany needed to admit defeat.
Final: Solberg defeated Neuville
Team Norway and All-Star Team: Team All Stars now face off towards final yr’s winners. Now, may RoK rookies Neuville and Drugovic beat father-son duo Petter and Oliver Solberg? Neuville was truly up towards Petter Solberg. But it was his son who was main the Norwegian team that day. Oliver Solberg did not look down on Drugovic, and when the Brazilian additionally misplaced his second try, Solberg Junior was sandwiched between Solberg Junior and WRC driver Thierry Neuville. Solberg is completed with Solberg’s work: the Norwegian defeated Neuville in the final combat and received his nation’s second consecutive Nations Cup! But Petter Solberg knew he owed his son: “I’ve to pay for his dinner,” the 48-year-old mentioned.