21st December 2012.
Congratulations to Romain Grosjean! It was a pretty good week for the Frenchman as he won the title ‘Champion of Champions’ at the Race of Champions in Bangkok, Thailand and then 24 hours later Lotus confirmed they have re-signed the 26 year old. I was there to get an exclusive interview with Romain as he crossed the finish line and he had a smile on him like a Cheshire Cat. Rightly so as well, as he had one of the toughest draws in the competition to get to the ‘best of three’ heats final.
Me and Romain after his win at ROC.
Just the night before Romain teamed up with fellow Frenchman and rally star Sebastian Ogier to compete for their country in the ROC Nations Cup. They were the only team to really bring a challenge to the German pairing of Sebatian Vettel and Michael Schumacher as the two teams met in the final.
The spoils weren’t to be the French drivers on Saturday night though as Team Germany won their sixth consecutive title beating the French 2-0. However, that meant Ogier and Grosjean were out for revenge in the individual contest.
In a repeat of last years Race Of Champions final Ogier met 24 hour Le Mans specialist Tom Kristensen in the quarter finals, but this time the results were reversed as Tom progressed through leaving Ogier to take an early shower and head to the drivers lounge and cheer on his compatriot.
Meanwhile Grosjean, who chalked up two wins in the group stages, only losing out to Schumacher, progressed through to the sudden death quarter finals to face Vettel. However, the F1 champ wasn’t to be the ROC champ as he smashed into the barrier and broke the suspension of his KTM X-bow.
Next up for Grosjean in the sudden death semis was Michael Schumacher who had beaten biker Mick Doohan to gain his place in the round. Grosjean certainly took revenge on Team Germany as he knocked Schumacher out of the competition and progressed to the final to meet the man who knocked out Ogier and came 2nd last year, Tom Kristensen.
Driving out into the Rajamangala National Stadium both men were desperate for the win for very different reasons. Kristensen, to put the ghosts of last years’ loss to Ogier behind him. Grosjean, to finally taste success after a season which has seen him banned for a race and under serious pressure to keep his seat.
The Frenchman won out in terrific style winning the first two races and crossed the line to take the title. He was ecstatic! No wonder he almost took off when he jumped onto the podium. It’s been a while since his last victory – a GP2 win in 2011 and while the Race Of Champions might not be a Formula One race – it certainly is a great platform to prove yourself as a driver.
Romain with his trophy and runner up Tom Kristensen.
Speaking after his win and just a few hours before he was officially confirmed as a Lotus driver for 2013 Romain said;
“I am very happy for all the support and confidence the team gave me. I will try to do my best and improve from where I am now and score a lot of points for both of us.”
Grosjean admitted he had spent time discussing the problems he had suffered in 2012 with team principal Eric Boullier, who is also his manager, before Lotus re-signed him.
He said: “We had very good discussions – sometimes not easy – but at the end they took the decision that I really wanted. “I was not sleeping very well but now it is done I can sleep like a baby again and hopefully show them they were right.”
I’m really pleased for Grosjean. He has had a torrid year despite three podiums and his marriage to French TV Reporter Marion Jolles.
There is no doubt that Grosjean is a very talented driver but maybe he hasn’t quite worked out how to control his pace. It will come in time I have no doubt and a sneaky £10 on Lotus, Kimi Raikkonen and Romain to do some serious business next season would be a good investment in my mind.
And for those asking is it worth booking a seat for next year’s Race Of Champions, wherever it might be in the world? Yes, is the answer. I had a brilliant time working with an amazing team. Everyone puts 100% into making it a great event for the drivers, fans and local community. It is one week of seriously hard work, long days and late nights but it was worth every sleepless hour and I want to thank everyone of the ROC team who made me so welcome at my first event
Some of the team who ROC’d around the clock.
If you’d like to listen to the review of the race weekend then log onto: www.raceofchampions.com. You can hear my interview with Romain, plus I catch up with Schumacher on his final season in F1, Vettel on winning the ROC Nations Cup for a 6th time, Adrian Sutil and his chances at Force India and Jorge Lorenzo on ‘that’ wall as Valentino Rossi returns to the Yamaha team.
And now, for me, I finally get a break after a very long season. I’m off to the beach so let me wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you for all your support through the season and here’s to a successful 2013 for everyone.
Jennie.