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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - MG ZS EX259 on test

Release Immediate
August 18, 2001



MG ZS EX259 TOURING CAR DEVELOPMENT

The MG ZS EX259 touring car successfully completed its shakedown at MIRA on 10 August. The run at MIRA provided the key data for chassis designers Lola Cars International and engine developers Advanced Engine Research to continue with the development phase in preparation for the first real test held at Pembrey on 15 and 16 August.

Day one at Pembrey saw running hampered by torrential rain storms, in complete contrast to day two, where dry sunny conditions enabled the team to complete a full day’s testing.

Dick Bennetts, managing director, West Surrey Racing.

"For a brand new car straight out of the box it’s very encouraging. The new regulations are designed to produce a car halfway between the old Super Touring and Super Production classes. This car is a Super Touring ‘minus’ rather than a Super Production ‘plus’, which is great, just where we wanted to be. Anthony’s previous experience combined with our knowledge is working well – there’s still a lot more to come."

Frank Dernie, chief engineer, Lola Cars International.

"I feel we’ve achieved most of the things we set out to do. It was good to get some dry laps done in the car and on fresh tyres. We were able to look at the overall balance of the car and get a feel for it with its baseline settings."

Anthony Reid, driver, car number 2.

"I am really pleased. Culturally it’s a different car to what I’ve driven over the last few years but it has all the ingredients of being a great race car. It is taut, responsive and consistent."

Warren Hughes, driver, car number 20.

"The car looks and feels great. I can’t wait to get my teeth into it and get out there racing."

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing Limited.

"MG’s great success at Le Mans in June this year where we completed more than half the race, generated a huge wave of enthusiasm and support for MG XPOWER. The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is the next phase in our motorsport programme but, with the new regulations, there is a lot of new ground to cover for all concerned. We will not really know how competitive a package we have until our first race at Silverstone on 9 September. But for MG, 2001 is alla bout getting on the pace ready for a full title assault next year ….. so far so good!!"

Editor’s notes

MG Sport & Racing has entered two cars based off the new MG ZS 2.0 KV6 saloon (which went on sale in July) into the 2001 British Touring Car Championships, competing in the last three rounds at Silverstone

(8/9 September), Donington (15/16 September) and Brands Hatch

(6/7 October).

Car number 2 will be driven by Anthony Reid.

Car number 20 will be driven by Warren Hughes.

Chassis development – Lola Cars International

Engine development – Advanced Engine Research (AER)

Race team – WSR (West Surrey Racing)

MG Sport & Racing Limited, a division of MG Rover Holdings Limited, was created in April of this year to mastermind MG’s return to motorsport. Under the banner of MG XPOWER, the first outing was at the world renowned endurance race 24 Heures du Mans in June. Further activity to follow includes a return tog ravel in the shape of the MG ZR EX258 rally car.


David Knowles

Large Image:
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cambs.mgoc/images-mgx/29182rov-.jpg

Resized smaller image:
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cambs.mgoc/images-mgx/MGtouringcar.jpg

Kelvin

Kelvin

Seeing as we are mentioning websites!!

Wallpaper version : (1152x894)

http://www.mg-rover.org/image_lib/index.php?RollID=wallpapers%2Fxpower&FrameID=Toca_3

(copy & paste the link etc..)

Also have some wallpapers of the Lemans car in action :) No to mention all the Z Cars & loads for the MGF :)

Steve.
Steve Childs

Original photos will be available as soon as the car start racing in anger in just a few weeks time.
Current BTCC photos can be seen here:

http://www.tocatour.fsnet.co.uk

Kelvin.
Kelvin


Release Immediate September 4, 2001

PREVIEW

MG ZS EX259

BTCC SILVERSTONE, SEPTEMBER 8/9, 2001

The British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) 2001 (September 8/9) is earmarked to be an exciting event as the MG ZS EX259 makes its first public appearance, drawing thousands of MG fans to the Silverstone circuit. The MG ZS EX259 will be driven by Anthony Reid (car 2) and Warren Hughes (car 20), drivers renowned for their prowess at Le Mans 2001.

The MG ZS EX259 is competing in the last three race meetings of the BTCC – rounds 21 and 22 at Silverstone (September 8/9), rounds 23 and 24 at Donington (September 23/24) and rounds 25 and 26 at Brands Hatch (October 6/7).

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing Limited said: "Having been blown away by the reaction at Le Mans, we are geared up for the next phase of MG’s motorsport programme.

"Everyone is really excited here, but we are trying to keep a lid on our enthusiasm as we recognise that we are in the development phase. We picked the last three dates on the BTCC calendar to give us an idea of our competitors’ strength and help us determine how much development work is required for next year. Our ultimate focus is 2002."

David Bowes, managing director, Lola Cars International said: "It’s been a fascinating technical exercise to have designed the first touring car from our Huntingdon factory. Frank Dernie and the technical team have worked extremely hard with our colleagues at MG, WSR (West Surrey Racing) and AER (Advanced

Engine Research) and we go into our first round of the BTCC with some satisfaction at the progress made to date. We’re also very aware, as with all new cars in whatever formula, there is still a great deal of work to be done."

Anthony Reid, driver of MG ZS EX259, car 2, said: "The main battle we have had has been the weather conditions we’ve experienced. We’ve got ourselves to a very good position. We are pleased with where the car is and we have several pointers to further improve it. I am confident that we’ll be competitive and am really looking forward to the race at Silverstone."

Warren Hughes, driver of MG ZS EX259, car 20, said: "Every time we run this car we take huge steps forward. I’m feeling optimistic and can’t wait to get going. It’s very different to what I’m used to but I’m pleased with the way I’m settling in – the team seem happy with my pace and although I have a lot to get my head around and learn new ways of driving, I feel I am adapting quickly."

Dick Bennetts, managing director, WSR (West Surrey Racing) said: "Despite being frustrated by the weather, every change we’ve made has taken us forward – we’ve not taken a step back at all with the chassis. We haven’t peaked yet and know there is more time to be found from the car. We’re going in the right direction all the time and a big thank you goes out to all the team for their commitment and the long hours they’ve worked."







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Release Immediate September 4, 2001

MG XPOWER – THE STORY SO FAR……….



MG Rover’s director of product development, Rob Oldaker, announced on April 26, 2001, the creation of a new subsidiary company known as MG Sport & Racing Limited and its associated sub-brand, MG XPower.

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:

1. The MG Motorsport programmes.

2. The engineering development programmes for our motorsport vehicles and the specialised road-going MG products that will evolve from them.

3. The performance parts and merchandising activities that will amplify and support the new-generation MG sporting image.

We have created a new sub-brand, called ‘MG XPower’ to bind together and symbolise all of MG Sport & Racing’s activities. The letter X stems from historic MG associations, such as the ‘EX’ engineering project numbers and the ‘XP’ engine number prefix. We already use ‘X’ codes for today’s MG prototype model codes, and our new motorsport cars have ‘EX’ code numbers."

In addition to his other responsibilities, Rob Oldaker is managing director of MG Sports & Racing.



MG MOTORSPORT PROGRAMME 2001:

Le Mans 24-hour Race, 2001
The flagship MG racing project is the Le Mans 24-hour sports car race. The car, named MG Lola EX257, was designed and built by Lola Cars International and powered by an MG XPower 2 litre, four-cylinder turbo unit from racing engine specialists Advanced Engine Research (AER).

Two MG Lola EX257 sports cars were entered into the LMP675 class – the lightest qualification group – and driven by six all-British drivers; Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey, Kevin McGarrity (car 33), Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes and Jonny Kane (car 34).

The 4pm start on Saturday opened to a torrential downpour on the farside of the track. Many cars spun and crashed in the opening laps, including MG Lola car 34, which suffered rear wing damage and later a puncture. Mark Blundell posted impressive laps and by the first hour, the MG Lola car 33 was in 7th position while car 34 had slipped back to 37th following the earlier pit stops.

As the race settled into its stride, the rain was still pouring down and the pace of the MG Lola saw it climb to its best race position of 3rd place, within the first two hours.

As the hours clocked up, MG Lola car 33 progressed well, lapping fast in the hands of Kevin McGarrity. Kevin who had previously qualified brilliantly in his first ever drive at Le Mans in the dark, was lapping very quickly in the appalling weather conditions. At that point he was the fastest man on the track.

Into the evening with eight hours and a third of the race gone, the MG Lola was pressing on, despite the persistent lashings of rain, which were causing electrical difficulties. Later an oil leak necessitated repairs by the team. The MG Lola EX257 returned to the track before rising temperatures, just after the 12-hour halfway time point led to its retirement. It was an impressive performance given the limited testing time, the extreme weather conditions and on a car that had never had the opportunity to be endurance tested.

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing Limited said: "We are immensely proud to have brought MG back to Le Mans and frankly it has been beyond our expectations to have been running as high as third and to have completed more than half the race time! This has always been our learning year and now we are confident that we will have the right package to make MG even more successful next year."


British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)



Lola and AER are also consultants for the engineering of EX259, the MG ZS racing saloon. Two cars, using a race tuned 2-litre KV6 engine, commenced testing in August and will make their competition debut at the Silverstone International meeting on September 8/9, 2001. The last three BTCC events of the 2001 season will provide a testing and development basis in preparation for the full 2002 season. Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes are the drivers and the team management is co-ordinated by WSR (West Surrey Racing), who previously ran successful BTCC teams for Ford and Honda as well as launching the careers of a dozen F1 stars, including the late Ayrton Senna.

Dick Bennetts, managing director of WSR, said: "The new regulations are an exciting change. There were a lot of critics initially as the cars are not as high tech as their predecessors, but personally I believe that they should be much more cost effective and better at racing – possibly creating an equal playing field by 2002."




WARREN HUGHES

Date of Birth
19 January 1969

Birthplace
Newcastle Upon Tyne, England

Marital Status
Single, girlfriend Roz

Lives
Sunderland, England

Family
Close family – his parents are retired but used to work in the pub trade, brother, Mark is ‘Grand Prix Editor At Large’ on Autosport magazine

First drove a car
Aged 13, father’s Alfasud Sprint in parent’s pub car park

First drove in competition
1986, local kart race in Felton, Northumberland

First racing machine
Aged 17, Kestrel 100cc kart

First victory
1987, Jim Russell Racing School training course

Hobbies / interests
Music, fitness

Favourite food
Vegetarian - especially Italian food

Favourite drink
Coke

Height
5’ 9", 175 cm

Weight
144lbs, 65 kgs





Career Highlights



The runaway winner of the MGF Cup Championship in 1999, has been a Formula One and a BTCC test driver in the past but has spent most of his career racing in Formula 3 and Formula 3000 where he has been battling it out at the front of the field.

2001
24 Heures Du Mans (MG Sport & Racing Limited)

2000 Italian F3000 Championship (2nd)

Tested for the Williams F1 team

1999 MGF Cup Champion

Final round of the British Formula Three Championship (3rd)

1998 British Formula Three Championship (4th)

1997 Six rounds of the British Formula Three Championship

1996 Four rounds of the STW Cup German Touring Car Championship

1995 British Formula Three Championship (4th)

1994
Four rounds of British Formula Three Championship

Final five rounds of the Japanese Formula Three Championship

Tested for F1 Team Lotus

1993 British Formula Three Championship (4th)

1991 Formula Vauxhall Lotus Championship (2nd)

Duckhams Formula Ford Festival (2nd)

1990 Won both British Formula Ford Championships






ANTHONY REID


Date of Birth
17 May 1957

Birthplace
Glasgow, Scotland

Marital Status
Married to Tina

Lives
Oxford

Family
His mother was a piano teacher, his late father, an architect. He has two brothers, one competes in Robot Wars, the other is a professional furniture designer

First drove a car
Aged 11, 30 ton earth moving vehicle

First drove in competition
1977, Jim Russell Racing School Scholarship

First racing machine
1976, Formula Ford - purchased himself

First victory
1977, Jim Russell Racing School Scholarship

Hobbies / interests
Water and snow skiing, golf, travel

Favourite food
Japanese food

Favourite drink
Malt whisky, vintage champagne

Height
5’ 11", 180cm

Weight
154lbs, 70 kgs





For the record

Educated at Loretto, former school of twice World Champion Jim Clark.
In 1999 he became Patron of ‘Racing for Children’.


Career Highlights

Well known for his successful driving in the BTCC, finishing runner up in 2000, he boasts over
15 years of experience in sports car and endurance racing. He is also the current holder of the British Land Speed Record

2001
24 Heures Du Mans (MG Sport & Racing Limited)

1999
British Touring Car Championship with Ford

1998
British Touring Car Championship with Nissan (2nd in Drivers’ Championship)

1997
British Touring Car Championship with Nissan


Daytona 24 hours in the Newcastle United Lister Storm

1996
German Touring Car Championship and winner of Fuji Intertec

1995
Japanese GT Championship with Team Taisan (Champion)


Japanese Touring Car Championship with HKS


British Team at the Touring Car World Cup at Paul Ricard

1994
British Team at the Touring Car World Cup (4th in TOCA shoot out)


Japanese Touring Car Championship


Japanese GT Championship

1993
Japanese Group A BMW M3 (3rd in Championship class 2)


Japanese Formula 3000

1992
Japanese Formula 3 with Tomei Sport and FamilyMart (Champion)

1990
Le Mans (3rd) in the Alpha Porsche 962C

1989
British Vauxhall Lotus Championship (3rd)

1982-1988
Raced Formula Ford and Formula 3 – achieved a number of victories


Competed in some sports car and saloon car race




MG ZS EX259 Touring Car

Technical Specifications

MG EX259 Touring Car





Engine
KV6, 6-cylinder - naturally aspirated V6 24v with fuel-injection

Capacity
Two-litre, 1997cc

Power
c270Ps produced with max. revs at 8,500 rpm




Oil system
Wet sump with single oil/water heat exchanger

Cooling system
Single water radiator




Transmission
6-speed gearbox with sequential gear selection




Clutch
5½" triple-plate sintered metallic




Chassis
Fully seam-welded bodyshell, with integrated roll cage

Suspension - front
Double wishbones

- rear
Lower wishbones with camber and toe adjustment links


Anti-roll bars front & rear




Brakes - front
343mm dia x 32mm thick ventilated discs with 6-piston callipers

- rear
290mm dia x 9.5mm thick solid discs with twin-piston callipers




Wheels
Aluminium alloy


17" diameter on 9J rims




Tyres - front & rear (cm/ratio)
24/61 x 17"




Steering
Rack & pinion




Instrumentation
Digital dash display and data logging system




Dimensions


Length
4650mm

Width
1700mm

Wheelbase
2620mm




Weight
1150kg (including driver)




Fuel tank capacity
60 litres
David Knowles

I wish David Knowles would refrain from posting the press releases on the BBS. These news relaese are best posted in the news section of this website!!

A Plea!

In David's defence, I for one actually appreciate his posting of snippets from the press office to the BBS for two reasons:
1. It brings to my (our) attention news articles directly related to the subject matter of the BBS concerned (which I would probably miss if it were exclusively in the news selection)
2. The BBS archives these threads which is useful in the future for reference- you know exactly where to look.

Just my 2 pence worth...

Keep us posted David!
Rob Bell

To Mr/Mrs/Ms A Plea - dont read them! Hit your 'back' button, drag the scroll bar through them.

The options to avoid reading Davids (to my mind very useful) snippets and press releases are endless - keep up the good work David.

Ted

PS 2 against 1 (so far)
Ted Newman

I also don't mind David's posting of the releases, even if they are abit before the release date! I'm only miffed because he gets to post them before me!!!

lol

Steve.
Steve Childs

This thread was discussed between 17/08/2001 and 04/09/2001

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