Imagine if 4-W-D beasts churning out over 600HP were allowed to race side-by-side at small arena-style circuits on a mix of tarmac and loose gravel, with a joker lap thrown in for good measure. Sounds like fun, right? Well imagine no longer, for the FIA World Rallycross Championship comes live to Motorsport.tv this weekend from Barcelona. Let the battle commence!
From humble origins at Lydden Hill in the late 60s, rallycross has grown into a global phenomenon, gaining FIA World Championship status in 2014 and attracting star names such as 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg and two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekstrom to its ranks. The two Scandinavian behemoths have been the dominant forces of the series in recent years, with Ekstrom wresting the title from Solberg after a tooth and nail battle last year. Never content with finishing second, the Norwegian has ditched his Citroen DS3 in favour of a Polo R to get back on terms with the EKS RX Audi star, but with Gymkhana megastar Ken Block and Sebastien Loeb – the most successful rally driver in history – also present in Ford and Peugeot machinery respectively, Ekstrom won’t be Solberg’s only concern…
Of course, the RX boys aren’t the only ones who will be kicking up the dust this weekend, as the stars of the FIM World Motocross Championship strut their stuff in Mexico. After his stylish double in Argentina, reigning champion Tim Gajser has snatched the MXGP championship lead away from Tony Cairoli and will look to extend his margin further at a circuit he won at last year. All the action from León will be broadcast live, including the battle for supremacy in MX2 as Switzerland’s Jeremy Seewer attempts to defend his slim lead from KTM rider Pauls Jonass, who already has four wins to his name this year.
But why stop there? In the week following the Australian Grand Prix, there is only one place to catch up on all the news and gossip – The Flying Lap. Fronted by well-known journalist Peter Windsor and featuring behind-the-scenes access with key paddock insiders, The Flying Lap will leave no stone unturned to get to the beating heart of modern motorsport.
Next, it’s off to Georgia for delayed-as-live coverage from the opening round of the TCR International Series, with 23 cars confirmed on the grid. Reigning double champion Stefano Comini once again heads the entry list in his brand-new Audi S3 TCR, but the Swiss will have it harder than ever to hold onto his crown, with challengers converging from both left and right. In the blue corner is his former Leopard Racing team-mate Jean-Karl Vernay in the proven VW Polo, while in the red corner are a swarm of Craft-Bamboo Racing SEAT Leons driven by Pepe Oriola and James Nash, who narrowly missed out on the title after a disastrous final round at Macau. And if the scrap at the front isn’t enough for you, then there are worse ways to spend an afternoon than gazing at the GE-FORCE team’s fleet of beautiful Alfa Giulietta TCRs...
From the glitz and glamour of the Formula 1 paddock to North Wales, see the Anglesey circuit like never before in the penultimate round of the MSN Circuit Rally Championship. With the points beginning to hot up between the rival MK2 Escorts of Paul Swift and Ian Woodhouse, would the pressure begin to tell?
Finally, we close with a dash of Americana from the NASCAR Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series. After breaking through for his first win since 2012 at Phoenix, could Justin Allgaier continue his momentum as the second-division Xfinity Series headed West to California, or would there be a fifth winner in as many races? Meanwhile, the Trucks travelled to Atlanta, with rookie Kaz Grala heading the standings after his shock victory at Daytona. But could lightning strike twice?
Friday 31st March
18:45 – The Flying Lap, Episode 2
21:00 – MN Circuit Rally Championship, Rd 7, Anglesey
Saturday 1st April
11:35 – FIM X-Trial World Championship, Rd 3, Marsielle
14:15 – British Rally Championship, Rd 1, Border Counties Rally
18:20 – TCR Asia Series, Rd 1, Sepang
18:55 – TCR Asia Series, Rd 2, Sepang
21:05 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, Rd 5, Fontana
22:05 – Camping World Truck Series, Rd 2, Atlanta
Sunday 2nd April
13:00 – LIVE, FIA World RX Championship, Rd 1, Barcelona
15:50 – Delayed-as-Live, TCR International Series, Rd 1, Rustavi
18:00 – LIVE, FIM MX2, Rd 4, Mexico (Race 1)
19:00 – LIVE, FIM MXGP, Rd 4, Mexico (Race 1)
21:00 – LIVE, FIM MX2, Rd 4, Mexico (Race 2)
22:00 – LIVE, FIM MXGP, Rd 4, Mexico (Race 1)
