Ekstrom claims Race of Champions hat-trick

BEIJING (Reuters) - Swede Mattias Ekstrom beat seven times Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher to win the Race of Champions for a third time on Wednesday.

The twice DTM touring car champion had already bested new F1 champion Jenson Button on his way to the final at the Bird's Nest stadium.

He beat Schumacher in the first two of three races to clinch another title to add to those he won in 2006 and 2007.

Schumacher teamed up with last season's Formula One runner up Sebastian Vettel to win the Nations Cup for Germany for a third successive year on Tuesday.

(Writing by Nick Mulvenney in Shanghai, editing by Ken Ferris)