Four current and former British boxing champions will be warming up for a ‘bout’ with a difference – when they fire-up a Wembley Stadium crowd this weekend with a Race of Champions showdown in new Abarth 500 race cars.

Four current and former British boxing champions will be warming up for a ‘bout’ with a difference – when they fire-up a Wembley Stadium crowd this weekend with a Race of Champions showdown in new Abarth 500 race cars. Ring legend Frank Bruno, young gun Amir Khan and fight stars David Haye and Enzo Maccarinelli have all signed up to drive 190 bhp Abarth 500 Assetto Corse superminis in a special Race of Champions celebrity event on the London arena’s purpose-built track. 

Billed as the ‘Ultimate Knockout’, the showdown is one of a series of races involving celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment that have been arranged as part of the Race of Champions extravaganza (14 December). Other stars lined up to tackle the winding, man-made circuit include TV chef James Martin, Olympic cycle champ Chris Hoy, Arsenal footballer Bacary Sagna, and singer Shayne Ward. 

The boxers and celebrities will each take part in knock-out rounds before two victors  from each group meet in a grand final. The ROC Celebrity Race takes place before the much-anticipated Chris Hoy/Lewis Hamilton – Man vs Machine challenge. In readiness for his weekend appearance, Chris Hoy was shown around the Wembley circuit on Wednesday (10 December) by former top international rally driver Michele Mouton, driving an Abarth Grande Punto which was launched in the UK earlier this year. 

The Abarth 500 Assetto Corse has been built as a limited edition of just 49 cars. The new vehicle, designed and produced by a team of Abarth engineers, sports a full racing conversion: wide track, white 17-inch special ultralight racing wheels, low ride height and sports racing mirrors. Inside, the Assetto Corse is equipped with a roll-cage type-approved for competition, sports seats, racing steering wheel and carbon door panels – all of which make the Assetto Corse a real baby racer. 

“The Race of Champions event is an exciting opportunity for Abarth to show the quality of its cars to thousands of race fans,” says Ivan Gibson, Abarth brand manager. “I’m delighted that so many well-known names will be driving our Abarth 500, and I am sure they will enjoy the experience of the car, the track and the entire event.”