We start with live coverage of Le Touquet Enduropale, a three-hour enduro event staged on the beaches of the French northern coast. First held in 1975, the event has changed format several times over the years, but is well-established as one of the toughest challenges in off-road motorcycle racing. With over 1,000 riders from across Europe taking to the sand all at once, the 12.6km route will change lap by lap as the course becomes increasingly rutted, posing a severe challenge to the competitors. Can Adrien Van Beveren overcome the freezing winds and rain to take his hat-trick?
If you missed our live coverage last week, then make sure to catch highlights of the 55th 24 Hours of Daytona, the opening round of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. It’s all change in America’s premier sportscar series this year as manufacturers are introduced to the prototype ranks, but would Cadillac, Nissan or Mazda do the best job? There were plenty of storylines in the GT classes too, as Ford unleashed all four of their fearsome GTs for the first time since Le Mans, while Porsche bucked tradition and unveiled their new 911 RSR, with the engine in front of the rear axle. But after 24 hours, who would be left standing?
24 months ago, Lance Stroll was racing and winning in the Toyota Racing Series at Teretonga. In the present, the Canadian is preparing for his rookie Formula 1 campaign with Williams. Several of this year’s young crop of talents including Ferdinand Habsburg, Thomas Randle and Brendon Leitch raced against Stroll that year and know the standards that are required, while newcomers Richard Verschoor and Marcus Armstrong will hope to put their own stamp on proceedings. Three different drivers won in the opening weekend at Ruapuna – will this be the weekend that a pattern starts to develop?
Crossing the Pacific back to Europe, get yourself in the mood for the spectacular FIA World Rally Championship Rally Sweden by catching up with all the best bits from last year’s edition, as Sebastien Ogier took his third win on the event. Historically dominated by Scandinavians, the snow-covered Rally Sweden is an exercise in precision driving between the snowbanks on studded tyres that are designed to bring maximum grip on the ultra-slippery surface.
Brands Hatch isn’t the most obvious location you’d think of to hold a rally, but that’s precisely the idea behind the Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship. Designed to run during the regular racing off-season, the series gives fans a unique view of their favourite domestic circuits and a cracking mix of historic and contemporary machinery, ranging from Ford Escorts to Subaru Imprezas and everything in between.Finally, we come to Round 6 of the NZ Jet Sprints from Featherston. When it comes to acceleration, these savage lightweight powerboats are without equal and make for a spectacular viewing as they charge from point to point on purpose built circuits. Just don’t get too close, or you’ll be liable to get a soaking…Friday 3rd February
20:00 – NZ Jet Sprints, Rd 6, Featherston, Group A20:30 – NZ Jet Sprints, Rd 6, Featherston, Superboat21:00 – Motorsport News Circuit Rally Championship, Rd 4, Brands Hatch22:35 – FIA World Rally Championship Retro, Rd 1, Rally Sweden 2016 Replay
Saturday 4th February
10:05 – IMSA Sportscar Championship, Rd 1, Daytona 24 Hours15:50 – Toyota Racing Series NZ, Rd 2, Teretonga18:55 – Supercars Championship, 2016 Best-Of
Sunday 5th February
10:15 – LIVE Le Touquet Enduropale18:55 – Le Touquet Enduropale, Highlights
