MG is eyeing an assault on the British Touring Car Championship when the sport's new regulations come into force in 2011, according to a report in Motorsport News.
The Chinese-owned firm is in talks with potential teams about running a two-car programme in Britain’s headline tin-top championship, which is due to adopt a new low-cost rules package next season.
Read Autocar's MG6 first drive review
The firm took the wraps off its new MG6 saloon at the annual MG Live! meeting at Silverstone last weekend and marque chiefs have admitted they are interested in turning it into a BTCC racer.
MG Motor UK marketing director Guy Jones told Motorsport News: “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.
“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 undoubtedly be seriously considered.”
The most recent MG works involvement in the BTCC was MG Sport and Racing’s ZS model, run by WSR from 2001 to 2003 with Warren Hughes and Anthony Reid at the wheel. The last MG to race in the series was Jason Hughes’ bioethanol-powered machine in 2008.
The full story on MG's racing plans is in Motorsport News newspaper, on sale today.
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Re: MG considers BTCC race return
I just wish we could consider the MG of now separate from the MG of old. It's a Chinese company who have bought the name and nothing else.
Their products may well be excellent, but we need to give them time to build up that reputation. Until then let's call it MGC!
Re: MG considers BTCC race return
You were obviously at a different BTCC event to the one I saw at Oulton Park last weekend.
Anything but a three horse race.
Re: MG considers BTCC race return
If they join forces with an outfit like RML they might surprise a few people.