As it happened: Race of Champions 2010 - Nations Cup

• 17:30

  Well hello there, what is this? More Factbyte Factboxing? Yes sirree. Today is the Race of Champions - Nations Cup.

• 17:31

  After it's questionable mid-week outing in 2009, the RoC is back on in it's proper weekend slot, with the Nations Cup today, and the individual competition tomorrow.

• 17:32

  I'll be here for both, and we'll have a live thread on Sidepodcast for both as well. Here's the thread for today: https://sidepodcast.com/post/live-race-of-champions-2010-nations-cup

• 17:33

  As ever, we highly recommend the Dashboard, as you can follow comments, this FBFB and an embed of the stream if you have access to it. https://sidepodcast.com/dashboard

• 17:33

  There is also coverage on Motors TV, but I'm not sure how you get hold of that channel. If you've got it, though, you're in luck!

• 17:34

  It is definitely worth following @RaceOfChampions on Twitter, as they are providing lots of great info.

• 17:35

  

• 17:35

  Going into battle today we have Germany, France, Nordic, Great Britain, USA, All Stars, Portugal and Benelux.

• 17:36

  I didn't know what Benelux was - apparently it's an economic union between Belgium, Netherlands and Luxumberg. Learn something new every day, you know.

• 17:36

  I'm pretty sure All Stars is not a nation.

• 17:37

  Would you like to know what drivers will be appearing also? Go on, then. You've twisted my arm.

• 17:37

  First up, we have Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel. They won it last year for Team Germany, so are back defending their title.

• 17:38

  Team France = Alain Prost and Sébastien Loeb.

  Team Nordic = Tom Kristensen and Heikki Kovalainen.

• 17:38

  Comment from RG: The All Stars in the Nations Cup is basically like the Unicorns in English cricket, they couldn't find enough teams so they made one up to make up the numbers.

• 17:38

  Team GB = Andy Priaulx and Jason Plato

  Team USA = Travis Pastrana and Carl Edwards

• 17:39

  A photo from @stephen_kremer showing the track ahead of the action.

• 17:39

  Team Portugal = Alvaro Parente and Filipe Alberqueque

  Team Benelux = Bertrand Baguette and Jeroen Bleekemolen

• 17:40

  Wait a minute. Albuquerque.

• 17:40

  That's a hard one to type.

• 17:41

  That being the case, I've decided Edwards is my favourite.

• 17:42

  The Nations will be split into two groups A and B, with a round robin competition in the first instance, leading to knockout semi-finals and the big final.

• 17:43

  Group A comprises France, Nordic, Portugal and GB, whilst Group B has Germany, USA, All Stars and Benelux.

• 17:44

  Comment from Lukeh: Katherine has told us to cheer on team nordic so they are my team of choice. Go Heikki!

• 17:46

  For anyone watching online, the live stream has started. There are cheerleaders waving their pompoms. Interesting.

• 17:48

  The drivers are completing their parade - each Nation driven in a car with yet more cheerleaders and pompoms waving.

• 17:48

  They are carrying flags, which is quite useful, but most cars have two different flags in which makes a bit of a mockery of the concept!

• 17:49

  Team Nordic - Heikki and Tom.

• 17:49

  I think there will be a variety of cars, as per usual. The only one I can recall is the X-Factor one.

• 17:50

  X-Bow.

• 17:51

  Schumacher is driving his and Vettel's car - one of the X-Bow ones. He pauses for a moment to do a donut for the crowd.

• 17:52

  Being held in Düsseldorf, and being defending champs, you can imagine that the Schumi/Vettel combo are quite popular.

• 17:52

  The drivers hop out of their cars and are now posing on the stage for a group photo.

• 17:52

  I seem to recall Tanner Foust being pretty popular in previous years. Maybe because of his drifting abilities.

• 17:53

  Vettel did take a passenger around the course earlier, and manage to bin it on the crossover section. Urgent repairs were needed, and probably a strong cup of tea for the passenger!

• 17:56

  @MartinHaven: The two Sebs - our newest World Champions, sharing a joke and VET admits to organiser Fredrik Jonsson, 'I'm so tired'

• 17:57

  A cold looking Heikki rubs his hands, either in preparation, or just to keep warm.

• 17:58

  Schumacher looks very relaxed and happy.

• 17:59

  Prost comments to Heikki about the cold. Must be pretty chilly.

• 18:00

  They are playing the ROC theme now. I must say "the R, the O, the C" actually haunts my dreams.

• 18:02

  Electric cars to take to the track for the first time, this year.

• 18:02

  Apparently, Portugal won their appearance here by winning a different Race of Champions. I didn't realise there was qualifying!

• 18:03

  USA vs Germany coming up first.

• 18:04

  Actually, that's a lie. It is Prost vs Heikki.

• 18:04

  Round 1

  France	vs.	Nordic
  Alain Prost		Heikki Kovalainen

• 18:05

  This is the Solution F Prototype.

• 18:05

  Race started.

• 18:05

  I imagine you're just going to see a lot of green flag, chequered flags now. It all happens quite quickly.

• 18:06

  The nature of the track also makes it hard to judge where they are until the end, but it looks like Heikki is ahead at the moment.

• 18:06

  They cross the start finish line four times. I may introduce the lap counter next time round!

• 18:06

  Race complete.

• 18:06

  Heikki wins.

• 18:07

  Group A, Race 2

  France	vs.	Nordic
  Sebastien Loeb		Tom Kristensen

• 18:07

  Race started.

• 18:08

  These are Porsche 911's. They look faster than the previous ones.

• 18:08

  It's close as they cross the line the second time. Loeb may be slightly ahead.

• 18:09

  Race complete.

• 18:09

  Loeb wins! One all between Nordic and France.

• 18:10

  I'm not sure what is happening now.

• 18:11

  Group A, Race 3

  Portugal	vs.	Great Britain
  Parente		Plato

• 18:12

  They are just taking their places.

• 18:12

  Back to the Solution Fs.

• 18:13

  Race started.

• 18:13

  Portugal had a rocking start.

• 18:13

  It's a six-speed gearbox in the cars, but you rarely get out of second around here. So says Martin Haven.

• 18:14

  Parente is ahead, and Plato makes a mistake, losing the back end over the bridge.

• 18:14

  Race complete.

• 18:14

  One to Portugal.

• 18:15

  Race 3
  Results

  Pos	Country	Time
  1st	Portugal	1:10.8405
  2nd	Great Britain	1:11.9223

• 18:15

  Group A, Race 4

  Portugal	vs.	Great Britain
  Alburquerque		Priaulx

• 18:16

  Back in the Porsche cars once more. I like these ones better.

• 18:17

  GB need to win this one. Priaulx looks ahead right now.

• 18:17

  Haven says these cars are really grippy at the back and you have to be brutal with them.

• 18:17

  Race complete.

• 18:18

  Priaulx wins by miles, well over two seconds.

• 18:18

  Something is leaking in the Porsche, apparently. Priaulx is leaving a wet line on the inside lane.

• 18:19

  They're showing replays of the last race now, presumably while the next group get ready. Who will be next though? I have no idea.

• 18:19

  Are we doing deciders? Each team has a win so far.

• 18:20

  It's almost like the last four races were a waste of time, but I would never say such a thing. 'hem.

• 18:20

  Replays show Priaulx hit the kerb and that's caused some possible radiator damage, hence the leaking. He did well to win from that!

• 18:20

  Andy's victory lap.

• 18:21

  The officials are just checking the kerbing, which looks okay.

• 18:21

  It's not water on track, but coolant, which is more slippery on track. I worry for who takes that track next time.

• 18:22

  We have lost our video stream. This could be a problem.

• 18:24

  Unfortunately I cannot tell you anything. We were reliant on the Freecaster stream which has failed. Bear with us.

• 18:26

  It doesn't look like it's coming back anytime soon, either. Oh well.

• 18:32

  We appear to be back, but I have no idea what we've missed.

• 18:33

  Group A, Race 7

  Portugal	vs.	Nordic
  Alburquerque		Kovalainen

• 18:33

  They are in a Chiroco? Chirroco? One of them is orange, anyways.

• 18:33

  Scirocco. WHAT IS THAT??

• 18:34

  I missed a green flag. Oops.

• 18:34

  These cars do have cool LEDs that show whether they have used push to pass or not.

• 18:34

  Race complete.

• 18:34

  Kovalainen wins. Don't know what that means, but well done Heikki!

• 18:34

  Comment from lou: @fbfb Team GB have done enough to get through to the next round.

• 18:36

  Group A, Race 8

  Portugal	vs.	Nordic
  Alburquerque		Kristensen

• 18:37

  These are some weirdo FJ-Racing cars.

• 18:37

  They look pretty slippery, these cars.

• 18:38

  I missed the green flag again! Damn.

• 18:38

  Race complete.

• 18:38

  Alburquerque wins! I still can't spell his name. Gah.

• 18:38

  Now we're on a tie-break between Nordic and Portugal, it seems.

• 18:39

  The driver with the biggest winning gap will go through, I think.

• 18:39

  The X-Bows!

• 18:42

  Group A, Race 9

  Portugal	vs.	France
  Parante		Prost

• 18:42

  Race started.

• 18:43

  Portugal have a puncture!

• 18:43

  Ah, he has broken a drive shaft. Automatic win for France.

• 18:43

  Assuming Prost gets to the end, of course.

• 18:44

  Replays show Parante lost control going under the bridge and smacked into the wall.

• 18:45

  He may or may not have had a puncture or a mechanical problem which caused him to lose control, rather than driver error.

• 18:46

  Audi cars up next.

• 18:49

  Group A, Race 10

  Portugal	vs.	France
  Albuquerque		Loeb

• 18:49

  Race started.

• 18:50

  They have a camera on the rear wing, which is an incredible view.

• 18:50

  Loeb may be slightly ahead.

• 18:51

  Race complete.

• 18:51

  A win for France.

• 18:52

  At the circuit, they're still undecided how to deal with tiebreakers. It's hard to live comment and fathom something that the organisers don't know either.

• 18:52

  Group A, Race 11

  Great Britain	vs.	Nordic
  Plato		Kovalainen

• 18:53

  Race started.

• 18:53

  These are the X-Bows again.

• 18:54

  Race complete.

• 18:54

  Kovalainen wins.

• 18:57

  Group A, Race 12

  Great Britain	vs.	Nordic
  Priaulx		Kristensen

• 18:57

  They are in the Audis, again.

• 18:57

  Race started.

• 18:58

  Martin Haven just said they are not quite "squirting it towards the corner." Not sure what that means but it doesn't sound pleasant.

• 18:58

  Priaulx is looking strong here.

• 18:58

  Race complete.

• 18:58

  Easy win for Team GB there.

• 18:59

  Race 12 Results

  Pos	Country	Time
  1st	GB	1:12.9157
  2nd	Nordic	1:14.0499

• 19:01

  Tweet from @RaceOfChampions: Priaulx is flying in the Audi! Team Great Britain is through with 4 wins! #ROC #raceofchampions

• 19:01

  Terry Grant is on track now, the man drives this little car round, does donuts, climbs in and out and is generally quite mental!

• 19:01

  Group 1 is done. Apparently.

• 19:02

  Comment from Lukeh: He walked away! From his car! that was driving itself! It's like The terminator is coming to life in front of our eyes

• 19:02

  Great Britain and France are through to the semi-finals. Team Nordic are third, and Portugal last.

• 19:03

  Terry Grant is still out there, doing his stuff. All I can hear is tyres squealing.

• 19:04

  I am staggered by the lack of structure this event has! I think we'll be moving on to Group B now though.

• 19:05

  Group B, Race 1

  Germany	vs.	USA
  Schumacher		Edwards

• 19:05

  Race started.

• 19:05

  They are in the ROC cars. Bit buggy-like. Schumi looks ahead right now.

• 19:06

  Race complete.

• 19:06

  Schumacher wins by miles.

• 19:07

  Race 1 Results

  Pos	Country	Time
  1st	Germany	1:13.2931
  2nd	USA	1:16.1596

• 19:07

  Tweet from @jasonplato: Lost out big time when parente crashed the ktm, they wheeled out a new for me with cold Tyres, bugger

• 19:08

  Group B, Race 2

  Germany	vs.	USA
  Vettel		Pastrana

• 19:08

  Race started.

• 19:08

  They're in this Schicaro things again.

• 19:09

  Both are using the boost on the start line, but Vettel uses it over the bridge.

• 19:09

  Race complete.

• 19:09

  That was the closest we've seen for ages. Pastrana gets it.

• 19:10

  He saved his last boost to cross the line, great driving to beat Vettel.

• 19:10

  Comment from RG: Pastrana for Red Bull.

• 19:12

  Interview with Pastrana: "There was not single person in the stands who was cheering at the end of the race. That's my goal!"

• 19:13

  Group B, Race 3

  All Stars	vs.	Benelux
  Doohan		Baguette

• 19:13

  Race started.

• 19:14

  Doohan has hit the wall at least three times now. He'll likely get a penalty or two.

• 19:14

  Race complete.

• 19:14

  Baguette wins for Benelux.

• 19:15

  They were driving the ROC buggies, which I have to admit look quite ridiculous.

• 19:15

  Group B, Race 4

  All Stars	vs.	Benelux
  Foust		Bleekemolen

• 19:16

  Sirocco's again. Push to pass is back.

• 19:17

  Race started.

• 19:17

  Foust is in the orange car, and it's looking close.

• 19:18

  Foust uses his boosts up very quickly.

• 19:18

  Race complete.

• 19:18

  That was epically close, and it looks like Bleekemolen got the win.

• 19:19

  0.0406 seconds between the two.

• 19:19

  That was the very definition of a photo finish.

• 19:22

  Our feed has broken again. This is not working very well at all. We may have to call this a day.

• 19:22

  It's hard enough trying to figure out what's happening on track, without having a looping video to deal with too!

• 19:24

  Apologies to all. It seems the Race of Champions is not Factbyte Factbox compatible. Not in it's current state, anyway.