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Race format

The Race of Champions uses an unusual format to determine the overall winner.

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The 18 competitors taking part in the Race of Champions are divided into two groups: 'on' and 'off' road. In other words, racing drivers and rally drivers. They then each compete in a series of heats, allowing group champions to emerge - who then go head-to-head in order to determine the 'Champion of Champions'. Each heat is run over 2 full laps of the track i.e. 4 runs past the start/finish line. Two elimination heats are initially contested between racing drivers only. The two winners then go through to the 'on' road quarter-finals. Quarter-finals There are four quarter-finals per group, with two competitors in each race. Semi-finals There are two semi-finals per group, with two competitors in each race. Group final The 'on' and 'off' road champions are thus determined... Super final The 'on' and 'off' road group winners go head-to-head in a best of three scenario to determine the destination of the Henri Toivonen Memorial Trophy. RoC Nations Cup First round Nations are paired together in best-of-three heats, with each team having a 'Driver 1' and a 'Driver 2' racing against their opposite number. If one nation's Driver 1 beats his opposite number and the result in the Driver 2 heat goes the other way, then both Driver 1s return to see which nation progresses. Quarter and semi-finals Both rounds follow the same format as the first round. Final The final is contested over the best of five heats in a format similar to the above.