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The first ever MINI CHALLENGE in
Australia has attracted over seven hours television coverage, with the majority
of that being LIVE on the Seven Network through V8 Supercars television,
including two races from Bathurst.
In a massive coup for the new
Series, races two and three from the return of MINI to Mount Panorama will be shown live as part of
Channel Seven’s extensive Saturday coverage of the Super Cheap Auto
1000.
MINI CHALLENGE charges into life at
Eastern Creek across the weekend of March 7-9 and the third race on Sunday,
March 9 will be beamed live into lounge rooms right around Australia.
The newest one make phenomena to hit
Australia will whet the
appetite of race fans throughout the country as the curtain-raiser to the
Phillip Island 500 in September, whilst events at Barbagallo,
Symmons Plains and the V8 Supercars Farewell to OranPark in December will also attract live
coverage.
All rounds except Symmons Plains –
which has two races shown live – will carry a half hour post-produced program
and a leading V8 Supercars personality is expected to be announced soon as the
colour commentator for the MINI CHALLENGE television
coverage.
Chief Executive Officer of MINI
CHALLENGE – Theo Psaros – couldn’t be
happier with the confirmation of the MINI CHALLENGE television
schedule.
“It’s fantastic that we have been
able to secure such a great package from V8 Supercars television, particularly
in the first year of MINI CHALLENGE,” he said. “With the news last week of
record ratings for V8 Supercars during 2007 on Network Seven, the platform has
been laid to increase that further in 2008.
“MINI CHALLENGE will be a
spectacular addition to the national motor racing scene if the Series’ in other
parts of the world is any indication and race fans across the country will get
to share in that through this magnificent television package we have
secured.”
The full schedule is as follows (PP
denotes post-produced):
|
RD
|
VENUE
|
EVENT
DATES
|
TV
DATES
|
COVERAGE
|
|
1
|
Eastern
Creek
|
Mar
7-9
|
Mar
9
|
Race 3 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
Apr
5
|
1:30 – 2:00pm PP
|
|
2
|
Wakefield Park
|
Apr
4-6
|
Apr
26
|
2:00 – 2:30pm PP
|
|
3
|
Barbagallo
|
May
9-11
|
May
11
|
Race 2 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
May
31
|
1:30 – 2:00pm PP
|
|
4
|
Sandown
|
Jun
7-9
|
Jun
28
|
1:30 – 2:00pm PP
|
|
5
|
Phillip Island
|
Sep
12-14
|
Sep
14
|
Race 3 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
Sep
28
|
1:30 – 2:00pm PP
|
|
6
|
Bathurst
|
Oct
9-12
|
Oct
11
|
Race 2 & 3 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
Oct
18
|
1:30 – 2:00pm PP
|
|
7
|
Symmons
Plains
|
Nov
21-23
|
Nov
22
|
Race 1 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
Nov
23
|
Race 3 LIVE
|
|
8
|
Oran Park
|
Dec
4-7
|
Dec
6
|
Race 1 LIVE
|
|
|
|
|
Dec
20
|
1:00 – 1:30pm PP
|
|