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<body> <Table Width="550" border="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" cellpadding="0"><TR><TD Width="35"><IMG SRC="//www.totalmotorsport.com/images/spacer.gif" WIDTH="35" HEIGHT="1"></td><td> <CENTER><Table border="0" width="100%"> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="5">BTCC</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">17/08/2001</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="4">MG ZS EX259</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><B><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="3">First Track Test</FONT></B></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><img border="1" src="Storage/X259FirsBTC.jpg"></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="center"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="1">  </FONT></TD></TR> <TR><TD width="100%" align="left"><FONT FACE="Tahoma" SIZE="2">The new MG Touring Car had its first track test at Pembrey on Wedenesday and Thursday of this week.<BR> <BR> 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.<BR> <BR> 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." <BR> <BR> 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."<BR> <BR> 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." <BR> <BR> 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." <BR> <BR> No times have been released. The two MGs will make their debut at Rounds 21 & 22 of the BTCC at Silverstone on September 8 / 9.</FONT></TD></TR> </TABLE><BR> </CENTER> <BR><CENTER><font size="1" color="#808080" face="Tahoma">Copyright ©2000-©2023 TotalMotorSport</font></CENTER> </td> </tr> </table> </body>