The Race of Champions, which saw Wembley transformed into a racetrack, is leaving Europe for the first time in its 22-year history.

After two badly attended events in London, the end-of-season motor sport showdown will be staged at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, which also hosted last year's Olympics.

The event, which sees stars from Formula One, rallying, NASCAR, sportscars and touring cars competing against each other in identical cars has been brought forward from December to the beginning of November.

Event organiser Fredrik Johnsson said: “We received exciting proposals from five world‑class stadia, but after the incredible Olympics last year, Beijing's candidacy was difficult to ignore.

“The venue is awesome, and having spent the last five years at two of Europe's biggest stadiums, Wembley and the Stade de France, we were thrilled about the opportunity to take our event to Asia for the first time, to another of the world's most iconic sporting arenas.”