Lola and AER are also consultants for the engineering of EX259, the MG ZS racing saloon being prepared for the TOCA Tour series. Two cars, using a race tuned 2 litre KV6 engine, will start track testing in July, and will make their competition debut at the Silverstone International meeting on September 8/9. The last three BTCC events of the 2001 season will provide 'shakedown' testing in preparation for the full 2002 season.

Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes are the drivers, and the team management is by West Surrey Racing (WSR), who previously ran successful BTCC teams for Ford and Honda, as well as launching the careers of a dozen F1 stars including the late Ayrton Senna.

Dick Bennetts, Managing Director of WSR, stated "The new regulations are an exciting change. There were a lot of critics initially as the cars are not as high tech as their predecessors, but personally I believe that they should give much more cost effective and better racing -possibly an equal playing field by 2002"

The cars are more sophisticated than super production, plus they look and sound good on the track". "The MG ZS has great potential. It has double wishbone front suspension and should produce good horsepower from its V6 engine. The initial feeling towards the aerodynamics is positive which is just as well as we are not allowed much in the way of development anymore -it looks to be a very efficient car in road trim. MG has a lot of buzz around it being a totally new project. We are very much looking forward to being linked in with MG and Lola".