MG has today announced its plans to enter a two car team in the 2012 British Touring Car Championship, with double champion Jason Plato leading the assault. The operation will be run by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the series’ most successful teams who took Vauxhall to numerous BTCC titles and victories over the past two decades.
Two MG6 GT cars are to be run by the team under the banner of ‘MG KX Momentum Racing’, with 2001 and 2010 champion Plato joined by Andy Neate, who will start his third full season in the BTCC.
It is the first time an MG will be seen on the BTCC grid since 2008 when an independent MG ZS was run by Jason Hughes. It is the first official MG effort in the BTCC since 2003, when a trio of cars were run by WSR.
Commenting on the programme, MG Motor’s Sales and Marketing Director Guy Jones 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.”
44-year-old Plato is looking forward to being part of an all British team in 2012. “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.”
Triple Eight Chairman Ian Harrison is looking forward to the change to work with Plato again, having taken him to his first BTCC title in a Vauxhall Astra Coupe back in 2001.
“I’m delighted that MG have chosen to put their trust in Triple Eight and very pleased to welcome Jason back into the fold,” said Harrison. “I’ve long felt that a single Championship win with Jason was insufficient and its great that we’ve now got the chance to put that right over the next few years. Andy Neate has good speed as well, having been around in BTCC for a number of years so having him on board as well gives us a strong combination. I expect good things from him as we work together on this new project.”