he stage is set for a thrilling Race Of Champions following the draw for the opening group stages of the event this weekend at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium.

The Race Of Champions, which is being staged for the 25th consecutive year in 2012, brings together the world’s greatest drivers from motor sport’s main disciplines – including Formula 1, world rally, touring cars, Le Mans, MotoGP, IndyCar and the X-Games – and sets them free to battle head-to-head in identical machinery.

For the individual Race Of Champions on Dec. 16, the drivers are split into groups of four for a round-robin first stage.

The top two in each group earn the right to participate in the knockout stages. Now, following today’s draw at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium led by Kanokphand Chulakasem, Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, this year’s star drivers have discovered who awaits them.

There will be a battle between the world’s best racers on four wheels and two as 2012 Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel goes up against 2012 MotoGP world champion Jorge Lorenzo and 500cc MotoGP legend Mick Doohan.

Other highlights include seven-time F1 world champion Michael Schumacher duelling against 2012 IndyCar Series champion Ryan Hunter-Reay.

Group A includes WRC star and reigning ROC ‘Champion of Champions’ Sebastien Ogier, V8 Supercar Champion 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008 Jamie Whincup, F1 driver  David Coulthard, and 2012 Production World Rally Champion Benito Guerra.

Group B has eight-time Le Mans 24-Hour race winner Tom Kristensen and three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx.

Group C includes 2010. 2011, and 2012 Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel, 2010 and 2012 MotoGP World Champion Jorge Lorenzo and five-time 500cc MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan.

Meanwhile, Group D has seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Michael Schumacher, 2012 IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter Reay and Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean.

Before Sunday’s Race Of Champions, drivers team up for the ROC Nations Cup on Dec. 15.  Schumacher and Vettel have taken an incredible five straight titles together for Team Germany – but to reach this year’s semi-finals the favorites will first have to negotiate a group featuring Team Australia, Team Asia and hosts Team Thailand.

Ahead of the two main feature events, there will be two special races on Dec. 14.

First, the best drivers from the host nation will battle it out for the ROC Thailand crown.

The two finalists will then represent Team Thailand in the first ever ROC Asia against Team India (Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok), Team China (Han Han and Ho-Pin Tung) and Toyota Team Gazoo Japan (Kazuya Ohshima and Takuto Iguchi). Both Team Thailand as host nation and the best-placed other ROC Asia team will progress to the ROC Nations Cup on Saturday.

Along with the stellar driver line-up, the Race Of Champions features a wide array of vehicles including the powerful Audi R8 LMS, VW Scirocco, Lamborghini Gallardo Super Trofeo and the Toyota GT86. They will run alongside ROC favorites including the ROC car, KTM X-Bow and Euro Racecar.