Due to scheduling conflicts, Valtteri Bottas, the new Alfa Romeo Formula 1 driver, has dropped out of the 2022 Race of Champions.
The Finn was slated to compete in this weekend’s event, which will be hosted on a snow and ice course in Sweden, alongside fellow Formula One drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher.
Emma Kimilainen, a W Series race winner, will now join two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen in the Nations Cup, replacing Bottas.
“Valtteri had commitments and a last-minute cancellation,” said Hakkinen. “I’m happy to have Emma, it’s going to be brilliant.”
“It’s an honour to be here. He’s my childhood hero [Hakkinen]!” Kimilainen said, adding that he was on a list of backup drivers that included two-time DTM champion Timo Scheider.
“I was just talking with his kids and remembering when I was their age, watching every Sunday when their was F1 on, watching him racing and winning titles.”
The Nations Cup begins off the 2022 Race of Champions on Saturday, followed by the individual Race of Champions on Sunday.
Bottas was originally paired with Vettel in Sunday’s individual race.
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