Week 12, 18 - 24 March 2006
The Racer’s Dozen
In endurance racing terms, the Sebring 12 Hours is where the season begins. Not only is it the first round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), one of the most exciting endurance racing series around but it’s also a traditional shakedown event for the endurance classic, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. So expect the diesel-powered Audi R10s in the LMP1 category to put in a strong showing, as they prepare for their assault at La Sarthe. However, the LMP2 Porsche Spyders won’t be letting them have it all their own way, if the official test in January was anything to go by. Motors TV will be showing the action live, with a short break to profile the Champ Car World Series champion, Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais.
2006 ALMS, round 1, Sebring 12 Hours
Saturday 18 March 15.00 – LIVE!
Man from Atlanta
The American NASCAR Busch Series heads for its southern homeland this week, as the train hits the Atlanta Motor Speedway quad-oval circuit for the fifth round of the championship. Located just outside the city of Atlanta, the Speedway is one of the most respected tracks on the circuit and has been part of the NASCAR world since the 1960s. Last year’s race was won by Carl Edwards, who demonstrated his signature back flip from the roof of his Ford Taurus. Join Motors TV to see if he’ll be repeating the feat, or if another driver will be taking the cup home.
2006 NASCAR Busch Series, Round 5, Atlanta
Monday 20 March 23.00
What An Ice Evening
With the championship decided and Yvan Muller clinching yet another Andros Trophy, the series heads for the Stade de France in Paris for the series Super Final, a chance for fans and spectators to witness the spectacle up close. Here, the sprint cars, bikes and supercars will race in front of packed terraces, on a man-made ice circuit inside the famous stadium. All the main drivers will be there, including Muller, Alain Prost and Olivier Panis. And the Motors TV Racing Team will also take part, with the two winners, Frenchman Vincent Marceau and British lady driver Kaye Whitehouse, battling it out in the Motors TV Sprint car.
Andros Trophy Super Final
Wednesday 22 March 18.00
Deep Pan Americana
In the 1950s, the Carrera Panamericana was one of the most respected and revered road rallies. A host of famous names, including Phil Hill and Fangio took part, in an event which the Mexican government endorsed to demonstrate the quality of the country’s roads. The original last ran in 1955, its purpose served but a group of enthusiasts revived the spirit and began to run it as a more recognisable rally format. Nowadays, the route takes competitors from Tuxla Gutierrez in the south to Nuevo Laredo on the east coast. This event features period cars competing on challenging Mexican roads against the clock, as they immerse themselves in the spirit of this classic event.
Carrera Panamericana
Wednesday 22 March 21.00
Staggering Feat of Enduro
The 2006 Maxxis World Enduro Championship kicks off in March, at the opening event in Ostersund, Sweden. The 2005 champion, Ivan Cervantes, threw down the gauntlet at the pre-season test, by setting the fastest time and it was down to the KTM team-mates, David Knight and Samuli Aro to put the pressure on. However, Swede Bjorne Carlsson and Frenchman Freddy Blank, returning after a year’s sabbatical, will also be doing their best to keep these three from the podium as the 2006 season starts.
Maxxis WEC, Round 1, Ostersund
Friday 24 March 20.30
