Barbados to host 2014 Race of Champions

London: The 2014 Race Of Champions (ROC) will be held at the Bushy Park Circuit in Barbados on December 13-14, the organisers have confirmed.

The 25-year-old event was cancelled last year for the first time owing to political unrest in host country Thailand. Indian drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok were supposed to make their second ROC appearance in 2013.

The racing extravaganza brings together the world's greatest drivers from motor sport's major disciplines – including Formula 1, World Rally, Le Mans, MotoGP, Nascar, IndyCar, Touring Cars and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

In recent years the Race Of Champions has visited the Stade de France in Paris (2004-2006), London's Wembley Stadium (2007-2008), the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium in Beijing (2009), Dusseldorf's ESPRIT arena (2010-2011) and Bangkok's Rajamangala Stadium (2012).

The public was asked to contribute to the decision on this year's ROC host via a vote on the ROC website, Facebook and Twitter. The Bushy Park Circuit was one of the most popular choices and after final discussions with all the leading contenders, the Barbados venue has now been selected to stage ROC 2014.

Event organiser Fredrik Johnsson said: "The Bushy Park Circuit was one of the most popular venues in our vote and we are very excited to be heading to Barbados as we assemble some of the world's greatest drivers for another festival of motor sport and entertainment.

"Hosting ROC at a circuit marks a break from our last ten years of stadium events but this is a throwback to our long-time home at Gran Canaria, which hosted the Race Of Champions from 1992 to 2003."

Newly renovated this year to become a multi-purpose motor sport facility, the Bushy Park Circuit has a 40-year history of hosting big racing events. Situated a short drive from the Barbados capital city Bridgetown and the international airport, the circuit has now been extended from 1.3km to a licensed FIA Grade 3 circuit just over 2km long with capacity for tens of thousands of spectators. The redevelopment also features a new clubhouse and pits complex along with a drag strip and a kart track.

The venue will house ROC's specially constructed tarmac track with two parallel lanes linked by a unique crossover bridge. Drivers will pair up for the ROC Nations Cup, this year taking place on December 13, ahead of the individual Race Of Champions the next day.