Wednesday 25th January 2012

MG joins BTCC

Plato heads new MG 'dream team' for BTCC campaign

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Whatever the MG6's true background it's already won praise for being a lively steer and this sporty image is getting a further fillip with news that an all-new MG team will be contesting in the BTCC. This is no token effort either, the driving line-up headed by none other than Jason Plato, who'll be joined by Andy Neate.

Plato and Neate in their crisp new MG shirts

Underpinning the effort is established BTCC outfit Triple Eight Engineering, best known for its work with Vauxhall. Sponsorship from Tesco underlines quite how seriously the new team is being taken, MG's new owners very much putting their hopes on a revival of the old race on Sunday, sell on Monday ethos that's always been at the heart of tin top racing.

BTCC boss Alan Gow has given the new team an enthusiastic welcome, saying "This is fantastic news for all the fans who follow the BTCC." He continued, "MG is one of motoring's truly evocative names so its BTCC campaign will, I'm sure, really capture the public's imagination."

Developed under the Next Generation Touring Car rules Gow has spearheaded in an attempt to revive the BTCC, the turbocharged MG6 GT racer has been teased in a rendering while Plato and Neate have had their team unveiling beside the regular road car, Plato for his part saying ""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."

 

[frankthetank2]

:O

I Don't think it'll help them sell any though. They sold 15 in october in the UK...

[SystemParanoia]

they're going to be a great value used buy

[Cotic]

I understand '888' are involved.

If that's the case it'll be worth keeping an eye on...

(edit - ooops - it looks different written in words...)

[Stew2000]

Why did this need a new thread and no video link?

[FWDRacer]

MG were the only manufacturer ready to foot the panel damage bill, eh Jason?

[Fire99]

frankthetank2 said:

:O

I Don't think it'll help them sell any though. They sold 15 in october in the UK...

Can't do any harm.. Not surprised by low car sales. Most of the UK public probably still think MGR are a closed book. Good luck to the Chinese for putting some effort in.

[P2 DJX]

Jason what the heck are you thinking ! ? ! ? ! Ive cheered you on for a few years , your my fav driver , but somehow I cant bring myself to cheer you on driving an MG of all things :-(

[Mr Gear]

P2 DJX said:

Jason what the heck are you thinking ! ? ! ? ! Ive cheered you on for a few years , your my fav driver , but somehow I cant bring myself to cheer you on driving an MG of all things :-(

Why?

[rj1986]

I miss the days of factory teams beating 7 shades of poop out of each other in the 1st bend.

Hopefully, others will follow soon.

[dadofbud]

I had the pleasure of meeting Andy Neate, a real gentleman and I wish him all the very best with this drive in 2012 and I would love to see him further up the grid.

If anyone can succeed in this car it's got to be Jason Plato, but I don't think too much will happen in it's first year.

I wish them both every success

[Twincam16]

P2 DJX said:

Jason what the heck are you thinking ! ? ! ? ! Ive cheered you on for a few years , your my fav driver , but somehow I cant bring myself to cheer you on driving an MG of all things :-(

So you can cheer on a British driver racing a Spanish car and an American car, but not a British car? Odd.

I reckon this really could help boost sales. For starters, at least the road car is available in a specification vaguely approaching a BTCC racer (turbocharged four-pot, decent suspension, apparently great handling, actually fairly quick), and you can bet MG's management will release a BTCC-lookalike model with a tweaked engine and suspension, bodykit and maybe some decals to go with it. Currently the marketing effort has been focused on trying to woo the classic MG crowd - something it's never going to do without a traditional rear-drive roadster - so in doing this they may well get back in favour with the kinds of driver who bought ZSs.

Also, this return to the BTCC coincides with the launch of their new diesel engines. The main reason why volume sales of the 6 have been poor revolves mainly around the model's appeal in its market sector - ie, fleets - and they're driven by things like emissions and fuel economy. The only engine they've got at the moment would better suit a hot hatch, but with a decent turbodiesel coupled with the lower-than-competitors price and insurance grouping, you can bet we'll see a fair few more once word gets around to the fleet managers.

And then the petrol-engined turbo version, with tweaks, can become a desirable BTCC-inspired range-topper, possibly a bigger, cheaper alternative to a Focus ST if the right modifications are made.

[vxr8mate]

frankthetank2 said:

:O

I Don't think it'll help them sell any though. They sold 15 in october in the UK...

You mean 15 people parted with their hard earned to drive these cars around.....soooo sad.

[Twincam16]

vxr8mate said:

frankthetank2 said:

:O

I Don't think it'll help them sell any though. They sold 15 in october in the UK...

You mean 15 people parted with their hard earned to drive these cars around.....soooo sad.

Have you even sat in one?

[12Mpg]

I saw one of these over the Christmas and thought it looked fine - much better than anything Vauxhall are putting out at the moment. I think this is a very bold move and I really hope it works out for them. I'd have a second hand one.

[P I Staker]

Really good to get another different model of car, especially with manufacturer backing. If they get the chassis set up properly Plato could be in for a good year.

[robinessex]

Don't care what cars are in the BTCC, it'll never recover to the good 'ol days of Ford Cossies, BMW's and Rovers, etc., etc., etc., on their doors handles, on the grass, on each other. Gonna rummage thro' my old videos now for a bit of nostalga...............

[T2R31]

Twincam16 said:

Also, this return to the BTCC coincides with the launch of their new diesel engines. The main reason why volume sales of the 6 have been poor revolves mainly around the model's appeal in its market sector - ie, fleets - and they're driven by things like emissions and fuel economy. The only engine they've got at the moment would better suit a hot hatch, but with a decent turbodiesel coupled with the lower-than-competitors price and insurance grouping, you can bet we'll see a fair few more once word gets around to the fleet managers.

Is there a new diesel engine due?.....

[insideimsmiling]

Good news as it should help to raise their profile, lack of advertising & awareness of the revived brand with the general public seems to be the cause of poor sales as the car was reviewed as handling quite well and it looks rather good when seen on the road. Joining the BTCC & the introduction of the diesel should boost sales.

[GreatCornholio]

I'd quite like to see this available in one of the Forza DLC packs! That'd be great publicity too:-)

Hopefully it'll have a lairy paint job and not Tesco value colours;-)

[TankRS]

that livery looks like it was down by my 5year old nephew!

also good luck the team