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Seven-times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher will make a return to racing at this year’s Race of Champions (ROC) event. The annual showdown, which sees national teams of world-renowned drivers compete in a variety of machinery, will take place in the UK in December.

Schumacher made his last ROC appearance in 2004. The German beat World Rally Champion Sebastien Loeb but missed out on the overall title to current Renault driver Heikki Kovalainen.

“I enjoyed the atmosphere, both with the other drivers and in the stadium where the fans seemed to clearly enjoy themselves,” explained Schumacher. “I hope that my participation can help the event organisers raise even more funds and awareness for ICM (the Institute for Cerebral and Medullary Disorders), which I'm one of the founder members of and that the Race of Champions is now supporting for the fourth year.”

Also set to compete at the event are Red Bull’s David Coulthard, Honda’s Jenson Button, World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx and 1995 World Rally champion Colin McRae. McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton has also been touted as a possible attendee.

After three year’s at the Stade de France in Paris, the ROC will, for the first time in its 20-year history, be held in the United Kingdom. The event is set to take place at London’s recently re-opened Wembley stadium on December 16 on a specially-constructed tarmac track. Up to 80,000 fans are expected to attend.