Let Battle Cross commence

American channel Speed TV screen the pilot episode of its new ‘Battle Cross’ format on Thursday night. The show, described as high-energy and action-packed, matches two drivers against each other over a mixed surface course. The competitive element of the made-for-TV event will consider both time and style.

The pilot show stars Rally America champion David Higgins from the Isle of Man and American X Games star Dave Mirra, the pair driving the Subaru Rally Team USA Impreza WRX STIs that they have used in the Rally America series this year. The course for the show is set out in and around the operating California Steel Industries steel mill in Fontana, California. The two ‘rounds’ of competition comprise a two-lap timed contest over the gravel and asphalt course, each driver allowed two runs with his best time counting, and a two-minute freestyle session in which the drivers will be marked for style. This will be judged by drifting champion Swede Samuel Hübinette and French rally and Rallycross man Stéphane Verdier who will consider the level of difficulty, creativity, precision and style displayed by each driver.

Speed TV hyped the show as: “With a new and unique competition format, a course that lives and breathes pure havoc, and the most skilled drivers on the planet going at breakneck speeds, Battle Cross is poised to become the bright star for the future of racing.” The show is hosted by rally and sometime Rallycrosser Canadian Andrew Comrie-Picard “ACP” with American celebrity co-host Stacy Keibler. It is produced by Rob Cohen who created the Hollywood franchise ‘The Fast and the Furious’. It airs on Speed TV at 2200 eastern time on November 17.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

[tube]SUXez3B4anI[/tube]