MG Rover’s director of product development, Rob Oldaker has announced the
creation of a new subsidiary company known as MG Sport & Racing Limited, and
its associated sub-brand, MG X Power.
Explaining the rationale for these developments, Rob Oldaker said: "We
sum up the brand essence of MG in the phrase ‘Outrageous fun for all’. To
our way of thinking, outrageous fun is a serious business. So we have set up a
serious business to generate that fun."
MG Sport & Racing has been formed to provide a central focus on three
closely related functions, which are:
- The MG Motorsport programmes.
- The Engineering development programmes for our motorsport vehicles and the
specialised road-going MG products that will evolve from them.
- The performance parts and merchandising activities which will amplify and
support the new-generation MG sporting image.
The letter X stems from historic MG associations, such as the ‘EX’
engineering project numbers and the ‘XP’ engine number prefix.
Further details of the MG race and rally programmes for 2001 were also
revealed.
The
flagship MG racing project is the Le Mans 24 hour sports car race. The car, with
the name MG Lola EX257, has been designed and built by Lola Cars International,
with input from MG Rover design director Peter Stevens. It will be powered by an
MG X Power 2 litre, four-cylinder turbo unit from racing engine specialists
Advanced Engine Research (AER).
Two EX257s have been entered into the LMP675 class (Le Mans Prototype with a
minimum weight of 675kg), which Lola won in the 2000 event, also with an engine
prepared by AER.
Lola
and AER are also consultants for the engineering of EX259, the MG ZS racing
saloon being prepared for the TOCA Tour series. Two cars, using a race tuned 2
litre KV6 engine, will start track testing in July, and will make their
competition debut at the Silverstone International meeting on September 8/9. The
last three BTCC events of the 2001 season will provide ‘shakedown’ testing
in preparation for the full 2002 season. Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes are the
drivers, and the team management is by West Surrey Racing (WSR).
For
MG’s return to rallying, there is the MG ZR EX258 project in the new Formula 3
Super 1600 category. Rally experts GSE Motorsport are responsible for the
vehicle development and management with the car to be driven by Gwyndaf Evans
(1996 British Rally Champion). AER will again prepare the 1.6 litre K Series
engine. Testing begins in June, with the first outing being scheduled for the
Cardiff-based Rally GB on November 22-26.
Summing up the MG X Power motorsport programme for 2001, Rob Oldaker said:
"Everyone involved has a very high level of motivation and
determination. We have some formidable combinations of machinery and people, and
we are very hungry for success."
