Weekend Preview: 26-27 September 2009

Feature Events

FIA Formula 1

- 2009 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix
- Singapore
- (14/17)
- www.formula1.com
- with FBMW Pacific and Porsche Carrera Cup Asia

A week after the FIA hearing into the Renault team and Nelson Piquet Jr, we return to the scene of the crime for the second F1 night race. Already we've had some fallout from this, with ING and Mutua Madrilena ending their sponsorship of the team with immediate effect (I think they may still be a personal sponsor of Alonso). It happened so quickly the stickers had to be removed on Thursday and the team clothing hasn't been updated.

Some forecasts show rain during the weekend - how will that affect the lighting, will there be too much glare from the reflections on the track? Finally, with it being a street race you can expect at least one appearance from the Safety Car.

UK TV: LIVE on BBC ONE from 12.10pm Sunday.

US TV: LIVE on SPEED from 7.30am ET Sunday, repeated at 2.30pm.

American Le Mans Series

- Petit Le Mans Powered by Mazda6
- Road Atlanta
- Brasleton, Georgia, United States
- (9/10)
- www.americanlemans.com
- with Atlantic, Star Mazda, IMSA GT3 Cup

Peugeot and Audi rejoin the ALMS regulars for 12th running of the 1000 mile / 10 hour event which has quickly established itself as a sportscar classic. It looks like the Peugeots are faster over a lap, much like last year yet in 2008 Audi's superior racecraft won the day. Can they repeat in 2009?
If these four cars suffer any kind of difficulty you can expect the Acura of De Ferran Motorsports to be in contention, too. Normally you would also bracket the Highcroft Acura with De Ferran, however Scott Sharp's accident in practice destroyed the car and they are working overnight to build up a new car from the tub which was airfreighted in last night.
The GT2 fight will be as tight as ever too, this year with a much greater variety in the field than the previous Porsche vs Ferrari fights. You can add to those names BMW, Corvette and Ford, and don't forget Panoz.
Remember, this race takes place on Saturday.

UK TV: LIVE on MOTORS TV from 4pm Saturday.

US TV: LIVE on SPEED from 11am Saturday. This year, for the first time, Speed will cover the entire race.

Also: www.radiolemans.com and Speed On-Board Pass

Other Events

Open-Wheel:

Formula Nippon

- Sugo
- Japan
- (8/8)
- www.f-nippon.co.jp
- with Japanese F3

Season finale of the Japanese series.

Atlantic Championship

- Road Atlanta
- Brasleton, Georgia, USA
- (9/10)
- supporting Petit Le Mans along with Star Mazda

Stock Car:

NASCAR Sprint Cup

- AAA 400
- Dover International Speedway, Delaware, USA
- www.nascar.com
- UK TV: DELAYED on SKY SPORTS XTRA, Sunday 10pm
- US TV: LIVE on ABC, Sunday 1pm ET

NASCAR Nationwide Series

- Dover 200
- Dover International Speedway, Delaware, USA
- www.nascar.com
- US TV: LIVE on ESPN 2, Saturday 3pm ET (not covered in UK)

NASCAR Camping World Trucks

- Las Vegas 350
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
- www.nascar.com
- US TV: LIVE on SPEED, Saturday 9pm ET (not covered in UK)

Sports Car / Touring Car:

ALMS

- Petit Le Mans (see above)



Rally:

Intercontinental Rally Challenge

- Rally Sanremo
- www.ircseries.com



Other:

World Superbikes

- Imola, Italy
- Eurosport

British Superbikes

- Silverstone
- Eurosport



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Sources
FORIX (sub req.)
Live Sport on TV
RadioTimes.com
Series websites as mentioned
Autosport magazine