Wembley Stadium

Lewis Hamilton brought his 2008 world championship-winning McLaren to Wembley for a special demonstration in December 2008.

On December 14, 2008, the 21st running of the Race of Champions took place at Wembley Stadium in London. The event featured a special demonstration by Lewis Hamilton, the reigning Formula One World Champion. This marked his first major British public appearance since securing the F1 title, as he drove his championship-winning Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car around the venue.

Lore & Background

Wembley Stadium hosted a unique motorsport moment on December 14, 2008, during the 21st Race of Champions. While the track proved slippery enough to cancel a planned race between Olympic gold medallist Chris Hoy and Lewis Hamilton—Hoy could not take part on his bicycle—the stadium still became the stage for Hamilton's first major British public appearance since winning the F1 title. He demonstrated his championship-winning Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car, bringing the roar of a world champion to a venue known primarily for football. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as fans gathered to see the 2008 world champion in action, even if the original head-to-head matchup against the cyclist had to be scrapped due to track conditions.

Reader's Guide

Visitors to the 2008 Race of Champions at Wembley Stadium on December 14 saw a mix of motorsport and celebrity entertainment. The main attraction was Lewis Hamilton's demonstration in his Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula One car, his first major British public appearance since winning the title. Fans who attended witnessed this historic moment despite track conditions that prevented Olympic cyclist Chris Hoy from racing against Hamilton as planned. Beyond the F1 display, attendees could watch a celebrity race featuring eight participants driving Fiat 500 Abarth Assetto Corses. The lineup included notable figures such as boxers Frank Bruno and David Haye, chef James Martin, footballer Bacary Sagna, singer Shayne Ward, and Chris Hoy himself.