13/02/02

Preparations for the 2002 BTCC season continued today (Wednesday), as the Barwell Motorsport and MG Sport & Racing teams took to the track at the fast Thruxton circuit in Hampshire. Barwell recently spent a week testing and developing their Astra Coupes in Spain, and are now looking to consolidate on this at locations closer to home.

MG drivers Anthony Reid and Warren Hughes are understood to have had limited testing time in the 2002 versions of their ZS racer, however significant improvements have already been made.

There are set to be 4 MGs on the grid in this year's series, with two independent entries alongside the WSR prepared works cars. Details of the drivers of these independent entries have not yet been released, however also present in the MG garage at Thruxton were front-running production class driver from 2001, Gareth Howell, and 2001 Ford Fiesta Zetec Champion, Colin Turkington.

When asked whether he would be driving for MG in 2002, Howell commented, "I would be very privileged and extremely honoured if I were to be offered a drive in the independent team that is planning to run in the BTCC this year with the 2001 MGs. It would be a dream come true but I am certainly not counting my chickens too soon. I am sure that there will be an announcement in the near future if anything is confirmed."

Howell finished 5th in the production class in 2001, taking a race win along the way, in the Snetterton night race feature. Turkington, from Northern Ireland, drove for the Tim Norton Motor Services team in 2001, and took the Fiesta title ahead of Matt Pinny.

The Egg Sport team have also been continiuing their testing programme this week, with Matt Neal and Paul O'Neill putting the Astra Coupe through it's paces at Pembrey.