Week 19, 6-12 May 2006
Cross Country runners
The second round of the 2006 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup took the crews and manufacturers to Tunisia, for the mammoth nine-day event across the north African sand dunes. The first round of the series, the Patagonia-Atacama rally in south America, was won by Luc Alphand in the Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution. But Tunisia sees the first event for Volkswagen this year, as it prepares for the 2007 Dakar rally. Gilles de Villiers, runner-up in this year’s Dakar and Carlos Sainz, double World Rally Champion, will be at the wheel of a pair of VW Touareg 2 cars. However, they’ll face stiff opposition, from three Mitsubishi drivers; Alphand, along with team-mates and each former Dakar winners, Stephane Peterhansel and Hiroshi Masuoka.
2006 Tunisia Rally
Saturday 6 May 17.00
Three Sisters Of Mercy
The second round of the Motors TV Ultimate Karting Cup Challenge takes place at the Three Sisters circuit in Wigan in May. This is a new series, designed to recognise the importance of karting in the motorsport world. It features four different classes racing on one day, each class for a different specification and age of driver. This is where the Formula One drivers of 10-15 years’ time will cut their teeth. The start grid for each race, from the second round, will be the reverse of the championship standings, meaning that the leading drivers will have to fight their way through the grid to challenge for the win. Expect frantic action throughout the pack around the tight circuit.
2006 Motors TV Ultimate Karting Cup, Round 2
Monday 8 May 19.00
Night of their lives
The NASCAR Busch Series roller coaster heads for the Richmond International Raceway in Virginia in May. The Richmond circuit is a short one, just 0.75 miles around the oval. And to make things even more interesting, the eleventh round of the 2006 series will be held at night, under floodlights. The short track is completely enclosed by spectator grandstands, meaning that once again, American motorsport fans will witness some of the most exciting action around, as 43 NASCARs run nose-to-tail around the circuit at night. An incredible spectacle and one brought to the UK by Motors TV.
2006 NASCAR Busch Series, Round 11, Richmond
Thursday 11 May 18.00
Time to GT Going
The 2006 FIA GT Championship kicks off in the UK in May, at the home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone. Recent pre-season testing saw the Zakspeed Saleens and the Vitaphone Maseratis trading honours for fastest times in GT1, while a brace of Aston Martin DB9s were also on the pace, in testing at Dijon. In GT2, the Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 was the class of the field while the Racing Box Dodge Viper topped the GT3 time sheets. The race lasts three hours and Motors TV will be showing highlights of all the action.
FIA GT Championship, Round 1, Silverstone
Wednesday 10 May 19.00
Passing the Maxi Test
The May edition of Motors TV’s own road test programme, Maxi Test, takes a look at some of the hottest cars to hit to roads. First up is the All-new Audi S6, the high performance version of the marque’s executive saloon. With 420bhp and 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds, it has to be one of the hottest four door saloons around. Also put under the microscope is the Chevrolet Corvette Z06. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other than an out and out performance car, with 400bhp and active transmission and suspension control. The performance variant of the Volvo C70, the legendary T5 model, also gets the Maxi Test treatment to find out if it lives up to expectations.
Maxi Test
Saturday 6 May 19.00
