MG announces BTCC return MG Motor UK will return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2012 with its stunning new MG6 GT model driven by Jason Plato and Andy Neate.

The British car manufacturer based in Birmingham announced the news this morning. It will be a full official factory-backed programme with the cars prepared by one of the BTCC’s most successful constructors, Triple Eight Race Engineering. They will be built to the BTCC’s new and spectacular turbocharged Next Generation Touring Car regulations.

Both Tesco Fuels, with its Momentum 99 fuel brand, and energy drink KX will be the primary sponsors of the project, leading to the team name of MG KX Momentum Racing.

Oxford’s Plato, BTCC Champion in 2001 (with Triple Eight) and 2010 and also a successful TV presenter, will spearhead the campaign as he seeks a third drivers’ title. For emerging star Neate from Aylesbury it’s a golden opportunity to shine in the BTCC, the UK’s premier motor racing championship that enjoys a significant global following.

MG last competed in the BTCC as a works entry from 2001-03. Since then the BTCC has boomed in terms of TV viewing hours and audience sizes as well as trackside attendance and the company’s return will enable it to promote its brand and particularly the MG6 GT model to a captive audience of many millions. The five-door MG6 GT fastback is the first all-new MG in 16 years.

Guy Jones, MG Motor’s Sales & Marketing Director, 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.”

Plato, with an unrivalled 68 race wins in the BTCC to his name, added: “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.”

The new MG6 has officially been launched for retail sale in the U.K  with a new brand image and marketing campaign.

The team at MG are delighted that the MG6 has scooped the WHAT CAR? 2012 Security Award.

Chas Hallett, Editor-in-Chief of What Car?, presented the award at the motor industry’s ‘Oscar night’ held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London last night.

He said: “MG is a well-known brand to British buyers, but its engineers had to start from scratch on many of the security features for the MG6. A top five-star rating from Thatcham is as good as it gets, so MG deserves real credit for achieving that from a ‘standing start’.

David Lindley, who heads the team of engineers and designers at the MG Birmingham, accepted the award. He said: “What Car? honours are not given lightly so that makes this award extra special."

The MG Concept 5 is another masterpiece from the MG brand. It is carefully fashioned by a British design team lead by Anthony Williams-Kenny the global design director of MG, and highlights the essence of the brand as well as the innovative thinking of UK Design. It is made to target the larger medium size car market and can satisfy a new generation’s attention to detail and thirst for high-tech products. It is truly the birth of a car for the new generation.


The MG Concept 5 is matured, refined and sophisticated; the pioneering design makes a strong and satisfying visual impact. It features a lower roof - highlighting its sporty proportions, the use of flowing lines, a cold metal finish, LED headlamps, as well as invisible handles.


“As an exploration of future design, the MG Concept 5 demonstrates the trends of UK design and it is the source of inspiration for future MG products,” said Anthony Williams-Kenny"