(Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545)
The FIA World Rally Championship continues on Motors TV and, after the opening round in Sweden in February, the only snow-based event on the calendar, the drivers face a radical change with the tricky, dusty roads of Rally Mexico where altitude will be a challenge as engines can lose up to 20% of their power. Victory in the last two editions went to seven-time world champion Sébastien Loeb and the event seems to suit the Citroën C4 WRC, which swept the podium in 2010.
Three weeks later the series returns to Europe for Rally Portugal with its alternating fast and technical special stages and abrasive roads where tyre management is crucial for victory. For the first time this year, the competitors will start from Lisbon, the city hosting both the shakedown and the first special stage, before heading to the roads of the Algarve as usual.
Rally Portugal is one of two events won by Loeb's new Citroën Racing team-mate, Sébastien Ogier, in 2010. The French team will also lease customer cars to talented privateers, 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg and 2007 F1 World Champion Kimi Raikkonen, who has already confirmed his presence on 10 of the 2011 season's 13 rounds. Pending the arrival of Mini, Citroën's closest rival is sure to be Ford with its Finnish drivers Jari-Matti Latvala and Mikko Hirvonen.
Motors TV's WRC coverage again gives viewers four un-missable programmes for each event of the 2011 season.
Round 2, Mexico:
Because of the time difference, the daily highlights from Rally Mexico will be screened the day after each leg.
Leg 1 (52' highlights): Saturday 5 March at 9am, 12.10pm, 10.35pm.Leg 2 (52' highlights): Sunday 6 March at 9am, 12.10pm, 10.35pm.Leg 3 (52' highlights): Monday 7 March at 8.55am, 12.10pm, 10.35pm.Full event review (52'): Sunday 13 March at 8pm.
Round 3, Portugal:
Leg 1 (52' highlights): Friday 25 March at 10.35pm.Leg 2 (52' highlights): Saturday 26 March at 10.35pm.Leg 3 (52' highlights): Sunday 27 March at 10.35pm.Full event review (52'): Sunday 3 April at 8pm.
FIM NIGHT OF THE JUMPS - LIVE
Somersaults and acrobatics 10m in the air, each trick proving more spectacular than the last: the riders of the Freestyle MX World Championship provide a breathtaking spectacle. LIVE on Motors TV!
Round 2, Berlin - LIVE, Saturday 5 March at 8.30pm and Sunday 6 March at 3.30pm.
BRITISH RALLYCROSS - LIVE
With the European Championship, British Championship and French Championship, Motors TV boasts coverage of the world's three major rallycross series.
The British Rallycross Championship begins its 2011 season first and, for the opening round, the 'High Speed Television' channel brings viewers four hours of live and exclusive action from Lydden Hill.
The race format in rallycross is totally different from any other car racing competition, providing a fast-paced event at each round that is ideal for television. With hundreds of 2-3 minute races each weekend on a mixed asphalt/gravel track, the action is always fast and frenetic!
Round 1, Lydden Hill - LIVE, Sunday 27 March starting from 1pm.
AMA SUPERBIKE
The competition in the American (AMA) Superbike Championship is of such a high standard that some of the greatest names in motorbike racing, such as Troy Corser and Ben Spies, began their careers their before going on to become stars of Moto GP and the World Superbike Championship. It begins its new season with the iconic Daytona 200 - a race that takes place on the famous speedway, using part of the iconic oval, that is guaranteed to be spectacular.
Motors TV bring 2-hour highlights of the two races from the first round of the year.
Round 1, Daytona 200 - Thursday 24 March from 9pm.
INSIDE GRAND PRIX
The 2011 Formula 1 World Championship begins on 13 March in Bahrain and Motors TV marks the occasion with the return of a new season of Inside GP, a 26' programme screening on the Monday prior to each Grand Prix. Including a complete preview of the circuit using state-of-the-art 3D modelling, driver interviews, behind-the-scenes access with the teams, technical info, latest news and archive footage, the show provides an in-depth analysis of the most prestigious championship of them all.
A must for all lovers of Formula 1!
Bahrain (Sakhir) GP Special - Monday 7 March at 9pm.Australian (Melbourne) GP Special - Monday 21 March at 9pm.
GP2 ASIA SERIES
GP2 Asia is the winter version of the GP2 Series, which supports each European F1 Grands Prix, and includes many of the same teams and drivers.
GP2 really is the final step on the ladder to Formula 1 with a number of its drivers having distinguished themselves at the top level. They include, amongst others, Nico Rosberg, Heikki Kovalainen, Timo Glock and 2008 F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton. The championship consists of three rounds, one in Abu Dhabi and two in Bahrain, the second of which will support the opening round of the F1 World Championship. Not to be missed!
Round 1, Abu Dhabi - Saturday 5 March at 2.15pm.Round 2, Bahrain - Saturday 12 March at 2.15pm.Round 3, Bahrain - Saturday 19 March at 2.15pm.
BATHURST 12 HOURS
Bathurst is renowned as one of the most spectacular circuits in the world and is famous for hosting the biggest race of the V8 Supercar Championship season. But each year during the Australian summer, the track is also the venue of a 12-hour endurance race reserved for GT and touring cars. An exciting date for the diary on Motors TV!
Saturday 12 March at 6.25pm.
LEGEND BOUCLES DE SPA
The reputation of the Legend Boucles de Spa, a rally reserved for cars built before 1986, has grown steadily since its creation. The reasons for this success are an endless list of competitors, including major names from the sport (Marku Alen, Ari Vatanen, Bjorn Waldegaard, Stig Blomqvist, François Chatriot, Marc Duez, François Duval, François Delecour...), increasingly impressive cars and an impressive number of spectators along the famous Ardennes route. The sixth edition must be followed on Motors TV.
Friday 11 March at 9pm.
AMA SUPERCROSS
With its bumps, jumps and whoops, Supercross is a spectacular discipline. The predominance of American riders is explained by the importance of the AMA Supercross Championship which, each year, plays out to packed stadiums.
Motors TV brings two-hour highlights from the Lites and Open categories, giving viewers the chance to see the world's best riders.
Tuesday 1st, 8, 22 and 29 March from 6.55pm.
BRITISH SUPERCROSS
Highlights of the spectacular British Supercross Championship which sees riders tackling the specially-laid jumps and whoops in the UK's biggest indoor venues including the 02 Arena in London the Belfast Odyssey Arena and the Liverpool Echo Arena.
Tuesday 15 March at 6.55pm.
ANDROS TROPHY
After two years away, the drivers of the Andros Trophy return to the Stade de France this year. It's a prestigious setting for the final round of the season and sees the likes of Alain Prost, Olivier Panis, Jacques Villeneuve, Jean-Philippe Dayraut and Franck Lagorce racing against each other on ice! Also on the bill in Paris are the cars of the Andros Trophy Electric category. Not-to-be-missed entertainment!
Super Finale: Stade de France - Thursday 10 March from 7.55pm.
