Race of Champions canceled due to political unrest

The Race of Champions has been forced to cancel this year's Bangkok event due to the current political unrest in Thailand.

The Sports Authority of Thailand, together with RoC organizers, said the situation meant the race could no longer be sanctioned. RoC organizers said in a statement that they are "currently looking at options of repeating the success of last year's event in Bangkok on another date."

Four people have died in recent anti-government street protests, with activists manning barricades outside official buildings and calling for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to step down. Protestors attempted to storm Shinawatra's office, Government House, over the weekend.

It is the worst violence Thailand has suffered since the eruption of violent protests in 2010, when the army was called to clear thousands of protestors, resulting in dozens of fatalities.

Seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher, Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen and World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier had all signed up to contest this year's event.