Red Bull GRC’s 2017 TV schedule on NBC, NBCSN released

By Feb 8, 2017, 9:31 AM EST
Photo: Chris Tedesco/Red Bull Content Pool
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On the heels of its schedule release last week, here’s the TV schedule for Red Bull Global Rallycross in 2017, for both the Supercars and GRC Lites divisions.

The release with full details is linked below:

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For the fourth consecutive year, NBC Sports will provide comprehensive Red Bull Global Rallycross coverage on NBC, NBCSN, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports app.

NBC and NBCSN will combine to produce more than 20 telecasts of the Red Bull GRC Supercar and GRC Lites series, and all events will be live streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

“This year’s Red Bull GRC telecast schedule on NBC and NBCSN will feature more racing action and original content than ever before, with over 24 hours of coverage between Supercar and GRC Lites action,” said Red Bull GRC CEO, Colin Dyne. “NBC Sports remains one of our most valued partners, and we look forward to working together again to deliver another great year of racing in 2017.”

“Red Bull Global Rallycross offers a unique brand of racing that viewers connect with,” said Jon Miller, President, Programming, NBC Sports and NBCSN. “The pace of GRC races combined with the skill of these drivers makes for riveting competition every time the cars hit the track.”

Expanded heat coverage will enable fans to follow their favorite drivers from the preliminary rounds all the way to the final through in-depth storylines and additional content on NBCSN companion shows and re-airs of each event.

The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross television schedule is as follows:

SUPERCAR TELECAST SCHEDULE

Round Location Event Air Date Time (ET) Network
1 Memphis, Tenn. Qualifying April 29 12 a.m. NBCSN
Finals April 30 1 p.m. NBC
2 Louisville, Ky. Finals May 21 1 p.m. NBC
3 Thompson, Conn. Finals June 3 5 p.m. NBC
4 Finals June 4 5 p.m. NBC
5 Canada Finals June 17 10 p.m. NBCSN
6 Finals June 18 4 p.m. NBC
7 Indianapolis, Ind. Qualifying July 8 1:30 p.m. NBCSN
Finals July 9 8 p.m. NBCSN
8 Atlantic City, N.J. Finals August 12 5 p.m. NBC
9 Finals August 13 4:30 p.m. NBC
10 Seattle, Wash. Finals September 9 4:30 p.m. NBC
11 Finals September 10 4:30 p.m. NBC
12 Los Angeles, Calif. Qualifying October 13 3 p.m. NBCSN
Finals October 14 4:30 p.m. NBC

GRC LITES TELECAST SCHEDULE

Round Location Event Air Date Time (ET) Network
1 Memphis, Tenn. Finals May 2 5 p.m. NBCSN
2 Louisville, Ky. Finals May 24 5 p.m. NBCSN
3/4 Thompson, Conn. Finals June 7 5 p.m. NBCSN
5/6 Canada Finals June 21 5 p.m. NBCSN
7 Indianapolis, Ind. Finals July 12 5 p.m. NBCSN
8/9 Atlantic City, N.J. Finals August 23 5 p.m. NBCSN
10/11 Seattle, Wash. Finals September 13 5 p.m. NBCSN
12 Los Angeles, Calif. Finals October 18 5 p.m. NBCSN

Further announcements about the 2017 Red Bull GRC season will be shared at the official series website, redbullglobalrallycross.com, and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @GRCseries.

Ford Mustang GT3 test has Austin Cindric dreaming of Daytona: ‘I want to drive that car’

By Mar 22, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT
Cindric Ford GT3 test
Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
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Austin Cindric wasn’t the “mystery” test driver behind the wheel of the new Ford Mustang GT3 at Sebring International Raceway, but the Team Penske driver desperately wanted to be.

Ford CEO Jim Farley, an amateur sports car driver himself, made the big reveal via a Tuesday tweet that provided the first video evidence of the GT3 Mustang on track.

“I’ve watched the video in question about a million times,” Cindric said Wednesday during a Ford Performance Zoom news conference to promote NASCAR’s first road course weekend of the season at Circuit of the Americas. “Definitely exciting times for sure. I want to drive that car. It suits my experience level and also the relationships that I have.”

Ford will enter the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next season with its GT3 Mustang, entering a two-car factory effort (that will be managed by Multimatic) in GTD Pro and making customer cars available in the GT Daytona category.

That increases the likelihood of seeing more NASCAR drivers crossing over to IMSA. Cindric has been the only full-time Cup driver in the Rolex 24 at Daytona the past two years, but Ford Performance global director Mark Rushbrook has said the GT3 Mustang will provide more opportunities.

Ford has used its GT4 Mustang as a NASCAR driver development tool in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Harrison Burton and Zane Smith combining to win the season opener at Daytona International Speedway in January.

“We’re excited about the Next Gen car and the new architecture there and the similarities between that car and GT3 and even GT4 cars,” Rushbrook said at the announcement of the Ford GT3 program in January 2022 at Daytona. “We think it’s a great opportunity and to do be able to do that in a 24-hour race and get NASCAR drivers even more time is something we need to consider taking advantage of that opportunity.”

Given his sports car background, Cindric probably still would be in the Rolex 24 regardless. He has eight IMSA starts since the 2017 season opener at Daytona, racing a Lexus RCF GT3 and Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the GT category. The 2022 Daytona 500 winner made his second LMP2 start this year with Rick Ware Racing.

But Cindric’s preference naturally would be in a Ford, particularly with sports car racing enjoying convergence and crossovers in both GT and prototype racing.

“It’s an exciting time in GT racing, just as it is now for prototype racing with a lot of new regulations and manufacturers building new GT3 cars,” he said. “And also the opportunity with WEC (the World Endurance Championship) and Le Mans and how that all lines up for that category of car. It’s definitely an exciting time. I want to be as much of a part of that as possible.”

Though those odds seemingly will increase with multiple Ford entries in the Rolex 24 field next year, Cindric said NASCAR drivers still have to put in the networking to land rides as he has in recent years.

“Now how (the GT3 Mustang) relates to specifically NASCAR drivers and how often they want to be in the Rolex, could it be an influence? Absolutely, as far as the tie-in with the manufacturer,” Cindric said. “But the challenge and the drive and the logistics of getting an opportunity for a race like the Rolex 24 will be just as challenging as it always is to find your one-off ride for the race. At least from my experience, that’s what I still anticipate.”

It turned out the “mystery” test driver wasn’t from NASCAR (Farley revealed the driver to be 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Joey Hand after a fan asked whether it was Joey Logano).

But Cindric believes there could be more Cup drivers — and perhaps himself — behind the wheel of Mustang GT3s in the future.

“There’s definitely more of a pathway than I think there would be before as far as Ford drivers are concerned,” he said. “Hopefully, I’ll get the opportunity to drive that thing. It’s obviously a great looking car. That’s the first box you’ve got to check. And it’s cool (to have) a guy like Jim Farley, no doubt he’s a racer just as much as he is steering the ship for Ford. It’s cool to see he’s just as excited as the rest of us about it.”