Jenson Button will contest the 2009 Race of Champions at Beijing's Bird's Nest Stadium later this year.

Button, who leads the Formula One drivers' standings by 18.5 points from Mark Webber following Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, will compete against another title rival from Red Bull, Sebastian Vettel, and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher at the traditional end-of-season event.

The Brawn GP driver will fly out to China immediately following the final grand prix of the season in Abu Dhabi for the event at Beijing's Olympic stadium on November 3-4.

"It's always a great event, it's great for the fans but it's especially good for all of us competitors," said Button, who contested the Race of Champions in 2007 and 2008 at Wembley Stadium.

"It's pretty intense; it's great to have so many different competitors from around the world.

"Really it's a great end-of-season event to just chill out and enjoy yourself and I'm looking forward to this year because the Bird's Nest is a pretty amazing stadium, it's going to be a lot bigger than before, so it's going to be a lot of fun."

German driver Vettel sits 23 points behind Button in the F1 drivers' standings and there is a good chance the two will lock horns in Beijing in the immediate aftermath of a potential title decider involving both in Abu Dhabi.

Fredrik Johnsson, president of Race of Champions organisers IMP, hailed the event's success in securing the participation of two of F1's front-runners, saying: "With him [Button] and Sebastian Vettel already confirmed, we have two of the leading drivers in this year's championship and, whoever wins the title, they'll be able to have one last battle at the end of the season."