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Category | BTCC | ||||||||
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Constructor | West Surrey Racing / Lola | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | MG ZS | ||||||||
Length | 4,650 mm (183.1 in) | ||||||||
Width | 1,700 mm (66.9 in) | ||||||||
Axle track | 1,860 mm (73.2 in) | ||||||||
Wheelbase | 2,620 mm (103.1 in) | ||||||||
Engine | AER KV6 1,997 cc (121.9 cu in) 270 hp (201 kW; 274 PS) V6 NA front-mounted, FWD | ||||||||
Transmission | Xtrac 6-speed Sequential | ||||||||
Weight | 1,150 kg (2,535.3 lb) (including driver) | ||||||||
Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants |
WSR Kartworld Racing |
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Notable drivers |
Colin Turkington Anthony Reid Warren Hughes Rob Collard Gareth Howell Jason Hughes Fiona Leggate |
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Debut | 2001 BTCC at Silverstone | ||||||||
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Teams' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 0 |
The BTC-T MG ZS EX259 is a BTC-Touring class racing car that was built for the 2001 British Touring Car Championship season by West Surrey Racing, who ran MG's official works program.
Partway through the 2001 BTCC season, WSR began entering their BTCC spec MG ZS, returning as a works MG team under the name of MG Sport & Racing. The new car's first appearance was in round 21, held at Silverstone, driven by Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes. Although ineligible to score points, the car showed some initial promise, with a victory at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit, the penultimate round of the season - indeed, it was the only non-Vauxhall entry to win in 2001.
For 2002, WSR entered 4 cars - 2 MG Sport & Racing entries for Reid and Hughes, and a satellite team, racing under the "Team Atomic Kitten" banner, with Gareth Howell and Colin Turkington driving for this team. The car proved to be reasonably competitive in its first full season; WSR finished 2nd in both the Teams and Manufacturers standings, and Reid finished 4th in the Driver's championship. However, they were 151 points behind the Triple 8-entered Astra Coupes in the Manufacturers championship, as that team remained dominant.
For 2003, the team entered 3 cars for Reid, Turkington and Hughes, this time all entered as works drivers. The season proved to be less successful than 2002 - with Honda Racing demoting MG to 3rd in both the Constructors and Teams standings, although MG once again won 3 races, with Reid slipping to 6th in the Drivers championship.