The opening round of the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge, the Monte Carlo Rally, is to receive extensive live TV coverage series organisers have announced.

Eurosport will provide six hours of live coverage of the event, which will include uninterrupted live broadcasts from the four mythical Col du Turini stages that conclude the event.

That is two hours more than had been previously announced.

All the action will come live from the stages, taking in views from the side of the road, helicopter-mounted wescam images, and spectacular on-board footage straight from the competing cars.

"Whilst presenting a number of challenges, we have proved in the past that our innovative live coverage from the stages gives the viewers an immediacy that has never been experienced before," Gilbert Roy, Eurosport Event's director of TV production, said. "Now we set the target even higher, by offering live action from seven stages of Monte Carlo.

"On the last evening in particular, there are nearly four hours of live night-time programmes from the mythical Col du Turini, which will provide a spectacular climax to the event."

Live coverage is set to follow on a number of other selected events during the season.