Reigning IndyCar Series Champion Ryan Hunter-Reay has been added to the list of drivers competing in the Race of Champions in Bangkok, Thailand this weekend. Hunter-Reay said the opportunity came about at the final event of the IndyCar Series sesaon right after he was crowned the 2012 Champion.

“I saw Jim Hancock who puts the program together, who promotes Race of Champions and runs the event,” Hunter-Reay said. “I saw him at the Fontana race, and we had just won the championship. Before I even got up on the stage to accept the trophy with my team, he said you want to do Race of Champions in Bangkok? And I was in a pretty yes mood, so it was yes to any question I was hearing, for sure. I’m looking forward to it.”

The event is taking place for the 25th consecutive year and is meant to put champions from across the world against each other head-to-head in identical cars on a specially constructed track. Other notable champions involve include 2011 “Champion of Champions” Sebastien Ogier, Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher, among others.

“I certainly looked up to Michael for a long time,” Hunter-Reay says of Schumacher. “His work ethic and his team mentality has certainly rubbed off on me. He’s a guy I’ve looked up to for a long time. You know, he’s had a huge impact in the racing industry and on drivers, young drivers such as myself coming up. So it will be pretty cool to square off against him, first off.”

I’m looking to advance as far as I can, and hopefully surprise a few folks there.

Drivers pair up and compete for the ROC Nations Cup. Hunter-Reay’s partner will be Benito Guerra Jr. of Mexico, FIA’s Production World Rally Championship this season.

Drivers are set to compete in a variety of cars, including a KTM X-Bow, a Gallardo Super Trofeo, an Audi R8 LMS or even a VW Scirocco.

“I don’t have any of those toys to mess around with at home,” he said. “So I think you have to rely on your skill set that you kind of worked on over the years and jumping from car to car, sports car to IndyCar to some of the heavier stuff that I’ve driven, stock cars and stuff, you just have to rely on the skill set.”

He says he would’ve liked to see some sort of open wheel car in the mix, but understands why they did what they did.

“But, hey, it’s still a car,” he added. “It has four wheels and a steering wheel, two pedals, three pedals, you have to make it work.”

Before leaving to go run the event, Hunter-Reay took to the track to begin testing for the 2013 season.

“We’re really looking forward to getting back to Sebring and kind of just bringing some things full circle from last year,” he said. “We want to confirm a few things, test a few new things, and really just get some answers before the Holidays come. So it’s a good opportunity, a great opportunity to get back in the car.”

It makes a tight schedule as Hunter-Reay will probably miss some practice at the Race of Champions event.

While Hunter-Reay is looking to compete for the win, he mainly wants to take in the event and enjoy himself.

“It’s a race I’ve watched for a while and something I’ve wanted to be a part of,” he said. “Before we did this year, I think certainly deserved our spot. But it’s going to be something racing those guys and really getting to know them and meeting some new people from around the world of Motorsports.”

As part of the 2012 celebration ceremonies, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series officials announced the 2013 series schedule. The series does include some changes as a result of other series making changes, however it still manages to represent the diversity of the series.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series has been known for going to both road courses and short tracks equally each year since the beginning. That continues this year with four road courses and seven ovals.

Last year’s schedule saw five road courses, seven ovals, however there have been two tracks that are notably missing from the 2013 schedule.

After making their return to Edmonton last year, the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will skip the Alberta capital as a result of Edmonton losing its IZOD IndyCar Series date. Running as a solo event on a big stage isn’t something that tends to lead to the best results.

The NASCAR Canadian Tire Series will also be skipping Montreal as a result of the Quebec city losing it’s NASCAR Nationwide Series date. According to multiple Quebec news sources, the track management demanded a Sprint Cup Series date. NASCAR, at this time, is not looking to take their top series north of the border so did not accept. They also ripped them of the Nationwide Series race, trading it in for the Mid-Ohio road course.

A lot of people believed that the result of losing both of these core road courses would allow Toronto’s Exhibition Place date to return to the schedule as a companion event for the IZOD IndyCar Series double-header. However, with what Honda Indy Toronto staff have planned, that could not be worked out and as a result, one of the events fans were hoping for are missing.

In trade for Montreal, the series will return to Autodrome St. Eustache’s oval for the first time since 2010.

Though in respect, one of the most anticipated events of the season is the road course event at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The series will begin their season there on May 19th, and then return on September 1st to run as a companion race to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

For the first time in series history, the trucks will be crossing the border and already fans are jumping to buy tickets, excited to see these trucks beat and bang on CTMP’s tight road course.

“We at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park are thrilled to be able to bring the Camping World Truck Series to Canadian motorsport fans,” Myles Brandt, President and General Manager of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, said last month. “We’re looking forward to creating an unforgettable experience for both fans and drivers alike this Labour Day weekend as we mark yet another milestone in the history of Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.”

The track has produced some exciting finishes for the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in season’s past with drivers beating and banging right to the very end. Last year’s season opener saw a thrilling battle between J.R. Fitzpatrick, D.J. Kennington and Scott Steckly, which kicked off the championship battle for the whole season.

CTMP’s owners have continued to make improvements each year as last saw track improvements to improve the racing, as well as a tunnel being added. This year’s off-season sees continued track improvements including an expanded pit lane, as well as a brand new media center being built.