LIVE V8 Supercars, featuring the Bathurst 1000
Our October schedule is jam-packed with big-name events, but none more so than the jewel in V8 Supercars’ crown: the Bathurst 1000. Run annually since 1960, it pitches the best tin-top drivers Down Under against the fearsome Mount Panorama Circuit in New South Wales. Mark Winterbottom will be eager to make it back-to-back victories there in his pursuit of title holder Jamie Whincup, who is no doubt equally hopeful of adding to his tally of four wins.
Regardless of the outcome we’ll be doing it all over again on the Gold Coast two weeks later when the title battle resumes at Surfers Paradise where we’ll have delayed coverage of both races.
Bathurst Qualifying Shoot-out: Saturday 11 October at 22:30 (Delayed)Round 11, Bathurst 1000: Saturday 11 October at 23:30 (Live)Round 12, Gold Coast 600: Saturday 25 October at 12:00 (Race 1, Delayed) and Sunday 26 October at 12:00 (Race 2, Delayed)
FIA World Rally Championship
October sees the 2014 WRC campaign enter its home straight with two of the remaining three events – Rallye de France-Alsace and Rally de Espana – taking place. Reigning champion and current points leader Sebastien Ogier won both rounds last season but will surely face stiff opposition from VW team-mate and arch title rival Jari-Matti Latvala this time around. And don’t discount Hyundai pairing Dani Sordo and Thierry Neuville, who both have a fondness for fast tarmac roads. As always we’ll be airing same-day nightly highlights from all three days of each event.
Round 11, Rallye de France-Alsace: Friday 3, Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October at 21:30Round 12, Rally de Espana: Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October at 21:30
FIA World Endurance Championship
With memories of Le Mans now fading fast, the battle for this year’s world title continues in Japan. Toyota, who probably should have clinched their first La Sarthe victory in June, will be desperate to triumph on home soil at Fuji Speedway, especially as they own the track! Last year’s battle between themselves and Audi was derailed by the weather, so it should be fascinating to see how the TS040 and R18, as well as Porsche’s 919, stack up around Fuji’s set-up-compromising layout.
Round 5, 6 Hours of Fuji: Sunday 12 October at 07:00 (Delayed)
LIVE TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
The final round of the US sportscar season is also one of its best, courtesy of the picturesque Road Atlanta layout that plays host to the 10-hour/1000-mile Petit Le Mans event. Expect the season-long LMP/DP squabble to be as intense as ever, especially if the title is still on the line, while the GTLM class remains one of the best represented anywhere in world motorsport.
Round 12, Petit Le Mans: Saturday 4 October at 16:00 and 23:30
LIVE FIA Formula 3 European ChampionshipThe world’s premier Formula 3 series draws to a close in October with two rounds and six races set to decide the destination of this year’s title. Frenchman Esteban Ocon holds a 77-point advantage over Max Verstappen as both drivers aim to build on their eight wins apiece so far.
Round 10, Imola: Saturday 11 October at TBC (Race 1) and TBC (Race 2), and Sunday 12 October at TBC (Race 3)Round 11, Hockenheim: Saturday 18 October at TBC (Race 1) and TBC (Race 2), and Sunday 19 October at TBC (Race 3)
LIVE NASCAR Nationwide SeriesIt’s something of a rarity to have only two NASCAR Nationwide rounds in one month, but that’s the situation facing us this October when the Series visits ovals in Kansas and Charlotte for rounds 29 and 30, respectively. Despite there being many more races still to run before then, the nature of this year’s title battle suggests that Chase Elliott, Regan Smith, Elliott Sadler and Ty Dillon will all still be vying for top spot come October.
Round 29, Kansas: Saturday 4 October at 20:30 and 22:00 (Live)Round 30, Charlotte: Saturday 11 October at 20:00 (Delayed)
LIVE European Le Mans SeriesThe fight for this year’s ELMS title comes to a head at Estoril in Portugal this October when the likes of Jota Sport, Thiriet by TDS and reigning champions Signatech Alpine will duke it out across all four hours for overall honours.
Round 5, 4 Hours of Estoril: Sunday 19 October at 13:10 and 16:00
LIVE Euro V8 SeriesAnother potential final round title decider, this time in the Italian-based Euro V8 Series, comes from Hockenheim where the mix of muscular GT and saloon cars will be rumbling for one final time this season.
Round 6, Hockenheim: Sunday 5 October at 12:55
LIVE CIK-FIA World KZ Championship finaleIt’s not often you see live karting on TV, but we’ll be showing just that in mid-October thanks to coverage of the world championship finale from Sarno, Italy, which features action from the KZ, KZ2 and Academy classes. It’s the perfect place for eagle-eyed talent scouts to unearth a star of the future.
Round 10, Sarno: Sunday 12 October at 13:40LIVE CIVItaly’s premier domestic motorcycle series draws to a close at Mugello in October, with titles potentially being decided in the Superbike, Supersport, Moto 3 and Pre-Moto 3 categories. We’ll have a mix of live and delayed coverage from all four classes.
Round 10, Mugello: Saturday 18 October at 13:00 (Live) and Sunday 19 October at 19:25 (Delayed)
Don't forget the clocks go back one hour from BST to GMT in the UK on Sunday 26 October.
