Just when you thought you’d seen every possible form of televised automotive entertainment, something new comes along. The new new is Battle Cross and the pilot episode airs this Thursday, November 17th on the SPEED Channel. Battle Cross answers the question: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to drive a pro rally car through an industrial setting, flat out?
Conceived and hosted by 2009 North American Rally Champion Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard, the first episode pits Subaru Rally Team USA teammates David Higgins (2011 American Rally Champion and all-around great guy) and Dave Mirra (record-holding BMX X-Games medalist) in a mano-a-mano+Sti dual for the best time and style.
Those who love the roar and chirp of high-end high-horsepower turbocharged AWD rally racers, are in for a treat. Higgins and Mirra drive their factory-backed Subaru WRX Sti rally cars in the premiere “Steel Yard Edition” episode of Battle Cross, over a course laid out by ACP in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X rallycross car.
Each episode of Battle Cross consists of two rounds of competition. In the first round, the drivers are allowed two shots at nailing their fastest time around a perilously-designed course. With a big nod to professional drifting, the second round is all about style: it’s not how quickly you cross the finish line, it’s how it looks. The style round is judged by two of America’s top professional Hoonigans: Formula Drift champ Sam Hubinette, and rally/rallycross/drift driver Stephan Verdier.
While Battle Cross has a Hollywood pedigree, with Rob Cohen of The Fast and the Furious fame at the the production and direction helm, this isn’t shot on a Hollywood set. It’s shot in a working steel mill. At speeds reaching 90 miles per hour. That’s sick. Insanely sick.
So what’s it look like behind the wheel?
SPEED TV has released a couple of teaser videos.
Here’s the official trailer (with co-host Stacy Keibler handling the starting flag chores) …
A clip with David Higgins at the controls …
And one with Dave Mirra tearing it up …
Love cars and video games, but hate to watch most racing on television? There’s no doubting the slide-and-fly aesthetic of Battle Cross. Here’s to hoping that SPEED orders a full season …
– by Daniel Gray