SILVER SPRING, Md., Sept. 21, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HD Theater expands its high-octane programming by reintroducing American audiences to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Starting Sunday, October 4, HD Theater launches its coverage with six new hours of action-packed rally racing programming -- culminating with the U.S. premiere of 2009's first WRC event, RALLY IRELAND, at 8 PM ET. The block of programming will immerse HD Theater's audience into the adrenaline-fuelled world of the WRC.
The FIA World Rally Championship is an epic motorsport adventure, pitting man and machine against nature. Over a grueling 10 month schedule, the world's greatest drivers and the most advanced rally cars take on some of the most challenging terrain that nature has to offer. Across twelve events spanning three continents, biting cold, driving rain and scorching heat combine with dirt, asphalt, gravel, snow and ice roads to present an electrifying, high-speed challenge that is unmatched in motorsports. These drivers assault treacherous mountain passes, winding back country roads and narrow forest paths at breakneck speeds exceeding 120 mph. HD Theater presents their exclusive U.S. coverage of the 2009 WRC with the following programming schedule:
"World Rally Madness" Programming Block
Sunday, October 4 from 3-9 PM ET
3 PM: GREATEST STAGES
This episode profiles the most challenging events from the
history of rallying.
4 PM: DARING DRIVES
Viewers ride along as the legends of the WRC are pushed to the
limit and beyond by some of the most spectacular and technical
stages on the rally racing circuit.
5 PM: GREATEST CARS
The machines are the stars of this episode, which showcases
the greatest rally cars of all time.
6 PM: TOP TEN SPECTACULAR CRASHES
Even the best make mistakes and in the WRC, those mistakes can
be stunning. This program counts down the most exciting
crashes in rallying history.
7 PM: 2009 WRC SEASON PREVIEW
This episode introduces viewers to the drivers, manufacturers
and events that will make up the 2009 FIA World Rally
Championship.
8 PM: RALLY IRELAND
The 2009 WRC kicks off with a monumental challenge: 217 miles
of impossibly narrow, rain-slicked country roads through both
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. These tight and
serpentine stages take drivers through the Sligo Mountains
and Fermanagh Lakelands where, in places, the narrow roads
are little more than the width of a car.
RALLY NORWAY
Sunday, October 11 from 8-9 PM ET
As an all-snow event, RALLY NORWAY is a technical challenge for
drivers, who must account for the snow and ice using steel-spiked
tires. Roadside snow-banks offer a cushion for the lack of grip, but
may be as dangerous as they are helpful. Hamar, Norway is home for
this rally, which runs through the same mountains as the 1994 Winter
Olympic Games in nearby Lillehammer.
FXPRO CYPRUS RALLY
Sunday, October 18 from 8-9 PM ET
Based on the south side of Cyprus, this mixed-surface rally combines
asphalt and gravel stages to crown the FxPro CYPRUS RALLY champion.
The Troodos Mountains challenge drivers as they take on the twists and
turns of mountain roads and gravel paths during the three days of
action.
VODAFONE RALLY DE PORTUGAL
Sunday, October 25 from 8-9 PM ET
Portugal's long rallying tradition is on display during the Vodafone
RALLY DE PORTUGAL, a gravel event that is widely considered one of the
most notorious and difficult rallies on the schedule. Both the Algarve
and Alentejo regions host stages in Southern Portugal, as this event
attracts some of the largest and most unruly crowds within the series.
RALLY ARGENTINA
Sunday, November 1 from 8-9 PM ET
With the series' first trip outside of Europe, RALLY ARGENTINA is held
in the area around Villa Carlos Paz in the heart of the Cordobese
Sierras on narrow, sloped roads best known for their spectacular water
splashes. The high-speed action takes place across open plains
featuring sandy river crossings and high-altitude landscapes that
resemble the surface of the moon.
RALLY D'ITALIA SARDEGNA
Sunday, November 8 from 8-9 PM ET
Sardinia is now home to the RALLY D'ITALIA, where the stages are made
up of fine and sandy gravel that is surprisingly fast, given the
course's tight and narrow nature. The stunning landscape for the
opening two days of the rally crosses Olbia-Tempio, Nuoro, Sassari and
Goceano before the competition heads north to the opulent Costa
Smerelda region.
ACROPOLIS RALLY OF GREECE
Sunday, November 15 from 8-9 PM ET
As one of the longest-standing events in world rallying, ACROPOLIS
RALLY OF GREECE is a mix of rough, curvy mountain stages with
blistering heat and choking dust. The undersides of the car take a
pounding from the rocks hurled up by the wheels, and tire wear is an
especially big issue for teams to overcome at this event.
ORLEN RALLY POLAND
Sunday, November 22 from 8-9 PM ET
After not being included in the WRC for over 35 years, Poland's most
prestigious motorsport event celebrates its 66th anniversary with a
return to the top level of rallying. The Mazurian Lakes District
provides an exceptional backdrop to these spectacular gravel stages,
where the WRC regular drivers are challenged by experienced Polish
drivers racing in their backyard.
NESTE OIL RALLY FINLAND
Sunday, November 29 from 8-9 PM ET
As one of the biggest annual events in Scandinavia with over 500,000
spectators, Neste Oil RALLY FINLAND features high-speed runs along
tree-lined tracks, peppered with high-flying jumps that demand
absolute commitment. Located in central Finland, this rally requires
efficient technique to cope with the high speeds and mammoth jumps
that litter the loose-surfaced gravel stages.
REPCO RALLY AUSTRALIA
Sunday, December 6 from 8-9 PM ET
WRC heads down under to the new base of Repco RALLY AUSTRALIA in the
Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. The hard-packed gravel
stages located in the Kyogle, Murwillumbah and Mullumbimby regions
will be a new and unfamiliar challenge compared to the rally's
historic stages on red earth and ball-bearing-like gravel roads near
Perth.
RACC RALLYE DE ESPANA
Sunday, December 13 from 8-9 PM ET
Providing some of the fastest stages of the series, the sweeping
asphalt roads of the Tarragona region southwest of Barcelona play home
to the RACC RALLYE DE ESPANA. As the penultimate round of the WRC
series, this rally plays a critical role in the overall championship
with only one event left in the schedule.
RALLY GB
Sunday, December 20 from 8-9 PM ET
As the final rally of the season, RALLY GB is one of the oldest
rallies in the world and is hosted in Cardiff, Wales. This
spectator-friendly event runs through gravel forest roads that often
become wet and slippery. The event also features stages on the exposed
military land to the north of Brecon, which is prone to fog that can
wreak havoc on drivers' ability to navigate turns.
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP programming is produced by International Sportsworld Communicators Ltd -- A North One Television Company. For HD Theater, Sean McKnight is executive producer, Bob Scanlon is vice president of production and development, and Clark Bunting is president and general manager.
About FIA World Rally Championship:
In 2008, WRC was covered by 188 countries via 228 broadcasters, with a total audience of over 633 million plus 12 million visitors to wrc.com. 2009 will see a total of 12 rallies staged across the world in Ireland, Norway, Cyprus, Portugal, Argentina, Italy, Greece, Poland, Finland, Australia, Spain and Great Britain. For more information please visit www.wrc.com.
About HD Theater:
The first 24-hour high-definition network in the U.S. to broadcast all of its content in brilliant 1080i and 5.1 digital surround sound, HD Theater offers compelling real-world and motorized content from a wide range of categories including adventure, technology, nature and world culture - all designed to provide viewers with the highest-quality television experience available. As one of the most widely-distributed high-definition networks available in the U.S., HD Theater brings its programming to life in a kaleidoscope of dazzling color, sound and sights.
** For more information, please visit HD Theater's press website at www.press.discovery.com where you can access photography, advance screeners and additional press materials. **