Sprint Race

Weather/Track: Bright/Dry

MG ZS EX260 - Car no.11 - Anthony Reid - Position: 4th
MG ZS EX260 - Car no. 12 - Warren Hughes - Position: D.N.F

The first race of the 2002 season was full of incidents in which a safety car was employed for four laps. After qualifying for third place on the grid, Anthony Reid was cruelly nudged into the gravel after exiting Paddock Hill Bend. His experience showed when keeping the car moving and climbed through the field to secure fourth place. On completing the race Anthony said: "On the first lap someone shovelled me off into the gravel. Fortunately, it was on a slope and I kept it moving. We have to bear in mind that this a brand new car and quite a different animal from last years car."

Warren made an impressive start from eighth on the grid where he held on to third place for the majority of the race. On lap 13 his MG ZS experienced a puncture. Warren commented: "I had a fantastic start ? one of the best touring car starts I?ve had. I really hung onto the Vauxhalls for the first few laps and the car felt really strong. Coming out of Paddock Hill Bend I had an instantaneous blow out on the left front tyre." This forced Warren into retirement.

Feature Race

Weather / Track: Cloudy / Dry

MG ZS EX260 - Car no.11 - Anthony Reid - Position: 3rd
MG ZS EX260 - Car no. 12 - Warren Hughes - Position: 8th

The feature race provided success for the MG ZS with Anthony achieving the first podium finish of the 2002 BTCC title. After qualifying eighth on the grid Anthony secured a third place together with another ten points at the start of the season. Anthony said: "I?m very pleased, WSR have done a great job to get the right set-up on the car and to get more power from the engine. There is so much potential with this car and I?m looking forward to the next few races."

Warren Hughes had a disappointing race when missing his pit-stop when he overshot the pit lane entry. Warren said: "The car is very encouraging and again we managed to keep up with the Vauxhalls. Everything was going perfectly to plan until I locked up coming into the pit entry, then the safety car came out and my race was over. The race and the car were encouraging and I can?t wait until the next race and put this one behind me. But, I?m positive about the future."

Commenting on Brands Hatch:

Dick Bennetts, managing director, WSR said: " I am very pleased for the WSR designed and built MG ZS EX260. A car that is less than two weeks old and it has got on the podium. This is very encouraging for WSR to help secure MG their 2002 BTCC championship title."

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing said: "I?m delighted with the feature race result and pace of the cars in both races. Today showed we have performance and enabled us to compare the MG ZS with the opposition. However, we have more to come based on the limited engine mapping to date. The cars are handling well and I?m sure we would have ended up with two podiums today it if hadn?t been for Warren?s puncture in the sprint race."