It's the ultimate showdown between Britain's most successful racers from 2008 — and the ultimate contest between man and machine.

Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton and Olympic gold medal cyclist Chris Hoy will battle it out over a specially-tailored circuit in the heart of Wembley Stadium, in a week's time.

Hamilton will be at the wheel of Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, while Hoy takes the saddle of a racing bicycle.

Starting side by side on a tight, twisty and challenging circuit alien to both machines, the two stars will race in a no-holds-barred duel.

The head-to-head chase will be the highlight of the warm-up for the Race of Champions Nations Cup events at the stadium, on 14 December, from 1pm.

Hamilton will also perform a thrilling demonstration run in his championship-winning Vodafone McLaren Mercedes.

After the pair leave the stadium, the Race of Champions will pit the best competitors from the world of two-and four-wheeled motorsport together, to show off their abilities on an asphalt track constructed on top of Wembley's famous pitch.

F1 stars, superbike champions, Nascar racers and rally aces will compete in a series of exciting challenges in two separate competitions; the ROC Nations Cup and the Race of Champions.

Each competition will pit drivers against each other in a knockout format in spectacularly quick ROC Buggies, lightweight, rear-wheel-drive 170bhp motorcycle-engined machines that rocket from 0-60mph in around three seconds, equal equipment ensuring that races are won and lost on talent alone as drivers push the vehicles to — and beyond — the limit.

In the Nations Cup drivers are paired into teams based on their nationality. The Race of Champions is an adrenaline-fuelled knockout competition where 16 drivers go head to head until the champion is decided.

Names already confirmed include eight times Le Mans 24-hour winner Tom Kristensen of Scandinavia, seven times F1 World champion Michael Schumacher of Germany, four-times World Rally champion Sébastian Loeb of France and triple World Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx of Great Britain.

Triple Superbike World Champion Troy Bayliss of Australia, Red Bull Racing F1's David Coulthard and Jensen Button, Team Autosport Great Britain, will also be competing.

"Ever since we created the Race of Champions 20 years ago, we've been putting the greatest racers in the world against each other," said Fredrik Johnsson, president of event organiser, IMP.

"With Britain's fantastic performance in Beijing, especially in cycling, and with Lewis winning the F1 World Championship, this was too good an opportunity to miss."

Hamilton said: "This is going to be very special. I've done F1 demonstration runs away from race tracks before but Wembley Stadium's completely different; the atmosphere will be crazy."

Hoy, who along with Hamilton is on this year's BBC Sports Personality shortlist, said: "I can kick about two-and-a-half brake horsepower so it's not going to match the car but I will be giving it everything!"

Adult tickets for the Race of Champions cost from £18, child tickets £9.

Call 0844 4121743 or go to www.raceofchampions.com