After a long old winter, the Nutcracker Altura XC Series kicks off 2016, this Sunday 20th March, with a return to its newest venue, Whinlatter Forest Park near Keswick in the Lake District.

We managed to grab Rob from Nutcracker MTB to see what was in store for you lucky Northern racers.

'Venue management and the Forestry Commission have given us exclusive access of the Northern Altura Trail loop this year. Adey, our Course Designer, has spent the last month or so tweaking the course to take advantage of all the new sections on offer.

The course will feature some of the fastest XC downhill sections on offer in the UK, and with that some gruelling climbs too. There is everything from manmade single track to natural forest sections, making sure there is something for everybody on this rollercoaster of a course.

Online entry closes at midnight on Wednesday. Entries are also available on the day for what promises to be a cracking opening race for this years championship with great prizes on offer from our main sponsors Altura, Torq, RWD Brakes and Rhino Goo.

Other races in this years series include Dalby Forest, Aske Moor (Richmond), Parkwood Springs (Sheffield), Gandale (Catterick), and the Dales Bike Centre (Swaledale).'

For further details please visit their website: www.nutcrackermtb.co.uk

Or give their Facebook page a like: www.facebook.com/NutcrackerRacing

And don't forget to check out the Nutcracker Altura XC series trailer - MTB Wars!