General News
25/Jan/2012
MG announces BTCC return
MG Motor UK will return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2012 with its stunning new MG6 GT model driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate.
The British car manufacturer based in Birmingham announced the news this morning. It will be a full official factory-backed programme with the cars prepared by one of the BTCC’s most successful constructors, Triple Eight Race Engineering. They will be built to the BTCC’s new and spectacular turbocharged Next Generation Touring Car regulations.
Both Tesco Fuels, with its Momentum 99 fuel brand, and energy drink KX will be the primary sponsors of the project, leading to the team name of MG KX Momentum Racing.
Oxford’s Plato, BTCC Champion in 2001 (with Triple Eight) and 2010 and also a successful TV presenter, will spearhead the campaign as he seeks a third drivers’ title. For emerging star Neate from Aylesbury it’s a golden opportunity to shine in the BTCC, the UK’s premier motor racing championship that enjoys a significant global following.
MG last competed in the BTCC as a works entry from 2001-03. Since then the BTCC has boomed in terms of TV viewing hours and audience sizes as well as trackside attendance and the company’s return will enable it to promote its brand and particularly the MG6 GT model to a captive audience of many millions. The five-door MG6 GT fastback is the first all-new MG in 16 years.
Guy Jones, MG Motor’s Sales & Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted that the new MG6 will be seen by millions of fans in Britain and beyond and this continues the famous sporting lineage of the brand.”
Plato, with an unrivalled 68 race wins in the BTCC to his name, added: “It’s really exciting to be involved in a brand new all-British team and it’s just brilliant that the iconic name of MG will be back on the track.”
See more pics of the car, drivers and key personnel in the Photo gallery in the Fans section of btcc.net
*Note that the artist's impression shown is not intended to be an accurate representation of some engineering/regulation details (eg. wheels, rear wing, bodywork etc.)
