CART: BBC2 Grandstand to provide television coverage of inaugural Rockingham 500

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

September 5, 2001

DETROIT (September 4, 2001) - Championship Auto Racing Teams announced today that its worldwide television rights holder and partner, ESPN International, has reached an agreement with BBC2 Grandstand to provide television coverage of the inaugural Rockingham 500, scheduled for Saturday, September 22 at Rockingham Motor Speedway near Corby, England.

"As the exclusive global television representative for CART, I am pleased that ESPN International was able to negotiate this agreement to bring the excitement of the CART FedEx Championship Series to British fans," said Mark Reilly, vice president and general manager of international sales for ESPN, Inc. "The interest of the BBC in televising this race further validates the placement of the CART series among the premier motor sports events in the world."

BBC2's Sunday Grandstand will offer over one-and-a-half hours of coverage on Sunday, September 23, the day after the scheduled running of the Rockingham 500. The BBC pre-race coverage will offer footage from previous rounds of the 2001 FedEx Championship Series, and will also include interviews with several key personalities associated with Champ Car racing. Commentary will be provided by Suzy Perry, along with Lee Diffie and former Champ Car competitor Mark Blundell--who won three races during his tenure in the FedEx Championship Series from 1996 through 2000.

"We are delighted to win the rights to this premier event, which adds to our motorsports portfolio," said BBC Sport head of programs and planning, Pat Young. "Only the BBC can bring these major events to the mass audience they deserve."

The Rockingham 500 will be run on the weekend following the inaugural German 500, which is scheduled for September 15 at EuroSpeedway in Lausitz, Germany. The races in Germany and England represent CART's first foray into Europe.

"Having this relationship with the BBC gives CART a significant broadcast presence in Britain and we are pleased to to see this agreement come together," said Joseph F. Heitzler, CART chairman and CEO. "We are looking forward to visiting both EuroSpeedway and Rockingham and meeting all our terrific European fans."

Added CART vice president of broadcasting, Keith Allo: "We are thrilled that CART's exciting brand of racing will be showcased on one of the preeminent sports shows in the UK. This gives us the opportunity to reach our current fans, as well as reach out to all of the great sports fans throughout Great Britain."

The 2001 FedEx Championship Series visits seven countries and four continents during the season and climaxes with the season-ending Marlboro 500 Presented by Toyota on Sunday, Nov. 4 at California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Thanks to a partnership between Marlboro, Toyota, CART and California Speedway, the winner of the season finale will collect $1 million, one of the largest paydays in all of motorsports. An additional $1 million, as well as the prestigious Vanderbilt Cup will be awarded to the driver who wins the FedEx Championship Series championship.

Text provided by Ron Richards

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