Steve Davies

The annual Race of Champions (ROC) returns to Germany this weekend (27-28 November) for the first time in 21 years, and there are several exciting new additions to the event - both in terms of cars and drivers.

Aston Martin Racing has launched a new Vantage GT4 for 2011. The new V8 engined racing car takes its design inspiration from Aston Martin’s V12 Vantage road car, which provides enhanced aerodynamics and increased downforce. It also has a remapped 4.7 litre engine offering increased levels of power and torque.

We seem to be writing a lot about Lotus this year, but then they've been making the headlines - usually for all the right reasons. Up until recently we were praising Lotus for the incredible albeit pricey Evora, their collaboration with 1 Malaysia Racing Team in F1 (licensed under the name 'Lotus Racing') and then the nostalgic return of the Lotus-brand to Indy Car Racing, run by KV Racing and driven by ex-F1 pilot Takuma Sato. 2010 looked like being a pretty good year for Lotus fans.

And then it all went horribly wrong.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is the most popular race car ever. To date, over 2,000 vehicles have been delivered to customers around the world and compete in both national championships and the F1-supporting Mobil1 Supercup. And now, the 444 bhp GT racer from Weissach joins the official competition cars at the annual Race of Champions, where many of the world’s most talented and famous racing celebrities from diverse disciplines come together to fight for the Nations Cup and individual Race of Champions title.

It's the final race of the season and Bernie couldn't have staged a more dramatic finale. Last week in Sao Paolo, Red Bull Racing secured the constructors title, an accomplishment that was long overdue...

Lotus Racing has announced this morning that its cars will be running in a black and gold colour scheme from the 2011 Championship onwards. This move echoes the evolution of Lotus Formula One™ cars of the past by moving from the iconic green and yellow paint scheme of the first season to the much loved black and gold.

Peugeot put up a thrilling fight at Le Mans in 2010 as they sought to retain their 2009 title against the onslaught of those indomitable Audis. But their campaign ended in misery after all three cars suffered the same engine failure. Olivier Quesnel, Head of Peugeot Sport said at the time, “However much work you put in, it’s Le Mans itself that decides who walks away with the trophy.”

One of the “hottest” seats in rallying has now been filled by double British Rally champion Guy Wilks who will join the Kronos supported Peugeot UK team for a full campaign in the 2011 IRC rally championship replacing fellow-Brit Kris Meeke who moves up to WRC in 2011.