Rally Car racing added to summer X Games

ESPN X Games will add the sport of Rally Car racing to its lineup, starting with X Games 12 to be held August 3-6, 2006. Rally Car Racing features a driver and co-driver racing street legal cars on closed sections of roads called "stages." The goal in rally is to accumulate the lowest elapsed driving time on a prescribed course. The co-driver navigates the course and communicates upcoming road conditions to the driver, so that a high rate of speed can be maintained around and over natural obstacles such as blind crests, jumps, hairpin turns, dips, etc. "Rally Car Racing is a sport we have been watching for some time now," explained Semiao. "We feel it matches our existing X Games audience while having the ability to attract new viewers, as well.





The X Games rally will encompass two days of competition, featuring six scenic rally stages on Friday, Aug. 4 and a "Super Special" timed event in a stadium setting on Saturday, Aug. 5.

"Bringing some of the world's best rally competitors in front of the X Games viewing audience is a huge step for our sport," said J.B. Niday, Managing Director of Rally America, the sport organizer for the event. "We're packaging a diverse and exciting rally into two days of action-packed entertainment, and we're sure X Games fans will be able to see and feel the intensity of rally car racing."

Details on the complete format, teams, location, tickets, etc. are forthcoming later this spring.