WSR MG 4-cylinder engine?!

[touringcarnut]

It’s reported that WSR have been running an MG with a newly developed 4-cylinder engine at testing at Thruxton, with some success.

http://www.btccpages.com/news/040224mg.php

If they decide to use it for 2004, could it be that WSR could mount a serious challenge for the 2004 campaign?

Or am I dreaming?

[touringlegend]

Apparently it was 1 second faster than the Honda's at the test according to some MG people, and according to Gareth Howell he was 0.5 second quicker than the ZS! Who do you believe ??

If MG sources are to be believed then they'll walk it this year! ZS is a great chassis (as professed by Reid & Hughes for the past 3 years..) now if the engines a belter..

[rdjones]

If they do enter, I am 75% certain of that. With performance like those at Thruxton, then I think they will give VX a good run for there money.

[Tim.Lad]

Casting my mind back to when MG where questioning weight reduction for the V6, similar to the ETCC rules, in sight of the fact the 4 cylinder engines produce more torque hence there are quicker out of the corners, but we have always know the MG is a handling car, may be there on to a winner this year… interesting to see how this goes..

[Phoenix1]

Not sure how relevant this might be but ever since they launched the MG into the BTCC they having been trying different engine mapping in terms of firing order, maybe they just could never find the balance? It does seem though, as mentioned, to lack the kick out of a corner and this hurts as they seem to get up on say a Vauxhall, pull along side onto to be outdragged out of the corner. The only way we will know for sure who is fastest and best over all in the end of the 2004 season! :-S

[Super Tourer]

On the subject of WSR (slightly OT!).

In this weeks Autopsort they are reporting that WSR will enter as privateers/independents without MG backing, it's likely that Colin T will be retained, but Dick Bennetts says they need a funded driver for a 2nd car.

So on that basis, it looks like two MG's, self run by WSR.

[Tim.Lad]

That is strange wonder why they still have work MGs livery on the car at the thruxton test ??

[Super Tourer]

I'm sure WSR still hope that MG will support them in some way or other, but they are in the mindset that having carried out so much work on the car over winter, they will do it anyway, presumably on a reduced basis.

[Startline1]

Sounds great, but is there a rule as to the engine having to be in X numbers of road cars?

[ADnet]

anyone else notice that the car on the tocatour website is warren hughes' window flash? also in reply to "it has the workslivery" i think they may have just stuck the K2000 engine in as opposed to the KV6

[acf8181]

i'll miss the sound of those v6's....but its the right choice of course, if its a better engine. i think the main reason for doing it is weight, and the way it can be positioned in the car. i can't believe an in-line 4 cylinder would produce more torque than a v6.

[flatbroke]

Judd use to tune the Nissan Engine that RML won the Championship with so I think the MG engine will be good

[ADnet]

would be great to see MG taking it to vauxhall this year

[Kelvin]

Yes inline four will have different power/torque, but it will be able to rev to the same limits as everyone else's engine and the potential weight savings on those front tyres will give the drivers the chance to bring the cars home before the front tyres go off, which was a huge problem in 03. The handling of the ZS chassis is already legendry.

Kelv

[Andy Metcalf]

My money is on MG for at least one of the titles this year.

[ATF]

If they only have 2 cars (and are eligible) I doubt they could win the manufacturers or teams championships. The only real possibility is the drivers title but depends who gets the 2nd seat.