MG plan 2011 return
MG today announced their intentions to return to the MSA Dunlop British Touring Car Championship as early as 2011 when the new NGTC regulations come into force.
MG have been in talks with potential teams which would run a two-car programme in the New Generation Touring Car era. “We have had approaches on many different levels of motorsport – from people in grassroots series to established BTCC teams – who want to race the MG6″, said Guy Jones, the marketing director of MG Motor UK when speaking to Motorsport News.
The MG6 saloon was released last weekend at Silverstone during the MG Live! meeting. “We are currently looking seriously at projects for the car in 2011. MG has a great history within British motorsport and we definately feel it is an area where we must expand with the new car,” said Guy.
Guy added, “The MG6 is very versatile and already runs an engine similar to the forthcoming NGTC touring car unit so it perfectly suits the BTCC blueprint. There is no concrete plan at the moment but we are at the table with interested parties and a BTCC programme will undoubtably be seriously considered.”
This proposal hasn’t gone un-noticed at the BTCC. BTCC series director, Alan Gow, commented, “The British Touring Car Championship offerst the perfect platform for any manufacturer to promote their products and get a level of publicity that’s unrivalled. The NGTC rules will make it even more appealing for any new manufacturer to join the grid and they have already provoked a lot of interest.”
MG entered the BTCC in 2001 as a works team with WSR which ran until 2003. WSR then continued to run the MG ZR as a privateer outfit until 2006 until they moved to the BMW 320si. Drivers such as Colin Turkington, Rob Collard, Warren Hughes and Anthoney Reid have all driven the MG in the BTCC.
Photo Credit: Pete Mainey (www.psmmotorsportimages.co.uk)
James Mappin
