LONDON, (Reuters) This year’s Race of Champions will be held in the German city of Duesseldorf after being staged in Beijing’s Bird’s Nest stadium in 2009, organisers said on Friday.

German Formula One drivers Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel, who have together won the event for the past three years, have already signed up to defend their title at the covered 51,000-seat Esprit arena on Nov. 26-27.

The annual end-of-season competition unites leading drivers and champions from various branches of motorsport in head-to-head battles in identical machinery. Previous venues included the Stade de France in Paris and London’s Wembley Stadium.

“It is special to do this kind of event in front of your home crowd,” said Red Bull’s Vettel. “It will be a unique experience and hopefully Michael and I will get a lot of support.”