MG has announced today that they will run an entry in the BTCC in 2012. Two MG6 GT cars will run in the all-new MG KX Momentum Racing team piloted by double BTCC champion Jason Plato and BTCC rising star Andy Neate.

The cars will be prepared by Triple Eight Race Engineering, one of the most successful constructors in touring car racing. And completing the ‘dream team’ are principal sponsors Tesco Fuels with their Momentum 99 brand and KX energy drink completing an all-British line-up.

MG KX Momentum Racing will debut at Brands Hatch on April 1 when the 2012 Dunlop MSA BTCC championship season gets under way.

It is a coup for MG to have secured a driver of the caliber of Jason Plato – he is the acknowledged star of the BTCC and the best known face of touring cars. He is also the newly appointed Director of the British Racing Drivers Club.

Plato said: “It’s really exciting to be involved in a brand-new all-British team and it’s just brilliant that the iconic name of MG will be back on the track.”

Guy Jones, MG Motor’s Sales & Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted that the new MG6 will be seen by millions of fans in Britain and beyond and this continues the famous sporting lineage of the brand.”

The BTCC really is going from strength to strength and offers manufacturers of a wide variety of vehicles access to one of the most competitive racing series in the world. 2012 has a huge number of cars on the grid and I for one can’t wait to see the action. Best of luck to Plato, Neate and the MG KX Momentum Racing team.

This video from Red Bull of the Dakar Rally 2012 is just amazing. There’s fantastic scenery, fast driving and some spectacular crashes. Well worth a watch.

Looks like a tough race doesn't it? Taking 14 days to complete more than 8000 kilometres, the route from Argentina, through Chile and to Peru is attempted in a variety of different vehicles. The four categories are Bike (450cc), Quad, Car & Truck. Unsurprisingly for the variety of surfaces the overall winner was on a bike but from the video you can see that these guys are most at risk from the rough terrain. It must take a certain kind of bravery or craziness to take on a challenge like this. 2012 overall winner Cyril Despres had this to say at the end

"The 2012 Dakar is without a shadow of a doubt the toughest Dakar I have ever raced in. It was very demanding physically but also such an intense psychological battle. Every day, I had to rise to the challenge and that takes its toll on the mind. It’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint because even when you do a good job one day, you have to go out there and repeat it tomorrow and the next day for two tough weeks."

Red Bull's official Dakar site has covered the entire event from start to finish with all the action on and off the road. With exciting videos, blogs and exclusive updates of the gruelling endurance race, it's well worth a visit.

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Here is the latest (as of 13th January 2012) Croft Circuit 2012 Fixture List (provisional):

Date/Event:
22 Jan Jack Frost Rally (DDMC)
1 March-1 April Motorcycle races (NEMCRC)
28-29 April Car races (BARC)
19-20 May Car races (DDMC)
23-24 June Dunlop BTCC (BARC)
21-22 July Car races (BARC)
4-5 August Nostalgia Weekend (HSCC)
18-19 August Motorcycle races (Derby Phoenix)
8-9 September Car races (DDMC)
29-30 September Car races (BARC)
28 October British Rallycross (TBA)
24 Nov Roger Albert Clark Rally
TBA Christmas Stages Rally (NAC)

Croft Circuit has issued an action-packed motor sport fixture list for 2012 with the star-studded Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (23-24 June), its own historic racing festival, Nostalgia Weekend (4-5 August), and the Roger Albert Clark Rally on 24 November featuring the hero cars of rallying’s golden era from the Seventies among the major highlights.

Croft Circuit Manager Tracey Morley commented: “Once again we are committed to providing the public, particularly families, with a great day’s entertainment when they visit us. We are very proud of our line-up of events for 2012, particularly considering we are limited to just 40 days per year of competitive activity here at Croft – of course the BTCC and Nostalgia weekends will attract star billing, but there are plenty of other gems in there for the public, media, officials and competitors to enjoy. We very much look forward to seeing them all during the forthcoming season.”

You may also be interested to know that Croft Circuit has re-launched its website www.croftcircuit.co.uk – providing fans, media, competitors and officials with greater and far speedier details about its exciting calendar of motor sport events and performance driving experiences.

If you like motorsport, you really, really want to watch this video. Just what goes into an endurance race at probably the most demanding race course in the world? Take a look at the video courtesy of Drive, a new channel on Youtube. For the record, I have a massive respect for all racing car drivers – the levels of concentration required are massive. However, I believe that top rate endurance drivers are a breed apart. Just imagine taking the carousel at huge speed in the dark…

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has revealed its extended points scoring system for 2012.

From next season, the top 15 finishers in each race will score outright championship points. The 15 highest-placed independent runners will also score in the Independents Trophy.

Previously, only the top ten in both championships were awarded points. The outright HIQ Teams Championship and Independent Teams Trophy will also be similarly altered.

BTCC Series Director Alan Gow commented: “Fundamentally, the new system doesn’t really change that much as we’ve maintained the same spread of points between the top-ten placings as before. However, what this does is to give drivers outside of the top ten something extra to go for and is thus an extra reward for their efforts.”

The 2012 BTCC season, featuring ten rounds at top race circuits across the UK, will commence on the weekend of 31 March-1 April at Brands Hatch in Kent.

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Volkswagen Racing Cup 2011 at Donnington Park, which was an absolutely great day out (article to follow shortly). Whilst there, I heard a rumour that a unique car would be on display. The vehicle in question was the BAC Mono. Just before the lunchtime break, I turned back toward the VW paddock and right before my eyes was this British engineering marvel.

Design
“I dreamed about creating a road car with the same level of intuitive direct control as a Formula racing car. A car that could be seen in the pits at a race track or on a British country lane and looked like the future. I wanted it to be high tech and totally fresh in its approach, a car for people who want to feel a connection with their car and be really involved in the character of how it drives. It had to be something they were consistently excited by and would experience pride in owning. In short, Mono is a totally immersive experience, from start to finish.”
Ian Briggs – Design Director, BAC

The statement above from Ian Briggs gives a flavour of what to expect from this car, however it still doesn’t do justice to seeing the thing in the metal. For a moment, it took me immediately back to my youth, away from the cynical adult existence we all find ourselves in, worrying about money, health etc and back to the moment when I was around eight years old with a massive poster of a Lamborghini Countach (in red of course) on my wall. My jaw had literally dropped at the sight of this unique car.

I naturally had to get a closer look. I was struck by the single seat, the angular dimensions and the singularity of purpose that the Mono represents. It isn’t just a car, it has the appearance of being ‘The Car’ if such a thing could ever exist. I literally took in every facet of the vehicle and was impressed at how extremely well engineered it looked.

Here’s some further information from BAC on what makes the Mono just so special:

Aerodynamics
Mono has been optimised and developed using CFD in conjunction with the University of Stuttgart’s FKFS department, a world leading automotive research centre. Designed to be as aerodynamically efficient as possible, the benefits are twofold. Mono offers supercar levels of top speed, whilst also delivering handling precision and balanced stability that complements the outstanding levels of mechanical grip on offer.

Electronics and Instrumentation
Leading developer of engine management and display systems GEMS provided the ECU, GCU and steering wheel display. Everything the drivers needs is located on the bespoke BAC designed steering wheel. There are no buttons elsewhere – the unique touch-sensitive engine start button, gear change and instrumentation are all accessed via the removable wheel, and like an F1 car allows complete control from the central driving position. You can also use it to switch between road and race modes. The totally bespoke design has produced something special which leaves a lovely clean cockpit free of clutter, and stands out from its rivals in terms of quality and ease of use.

Vehicle dynamics
Perfecting Mono’s weight optimisation was fundamental to BAC’s vision of Mono. Every aspect was analyzed – maximising all component functionality in terms of performance and weight through CAD and CAE refinements, optimising weight distribution between front and rear, attaining the lowest possible centre of gravity. Furthermore the suspension settings are fully adjustable, allowing the driver to fine tune vehicle setup. With up to 100mm of total suspension travel Mono offers exceptional compliance without compromising handling precision, making it ideal for B roads or absorbing the impact of race track kerbs. Careful efforts have been made to reduce the unsprung mass and the use of specially developed rubber bushes, ball joints and needle roller bearings have helped to keep parasitic and frictional losses to a minimum.

Safety
A primary concern where nothing has been left to chance. Constructed using high-strength carbon fibre composite around a steel safety cell, Mono meets FIA Formula One regulations for rollover protection (ROPS) and is fully legal for road use. In addition to a sophisticated side impact structure, the carbon fibre energy-absorbing crash box doubles as a helmet storage space. Mono also complies with mandatory road clearance and driver visibility guidelines. Adjustable seat, pedal and steering wheel position allow for optimum driver comfort.

The Mono runs with a 2.3 litre normally aspirated 4 cylinder engine (so it should be totally solid), offering 280 bhp near to the top of the rev range and 280 Nm of torque. 0-60 is topped in around 2.8 seconds. Cosworth have been involved and other parts are bespoke from the likes of AP Racing, Williams, Kumho and more.

Perhaps the best part of seeing the BAC Mono on that fortunate day was seeing it being driven a few hundred metres. I’ve no idea who the driver was but he slipped into the cockpit and blipped the throttle. The noise was outstanding! What a roar, even from low down. I think I’ve found the car I simply must drive before I die. Now, where did I leave my spare £87,500?

The British Touring Car Championship remains one of the most exciting types of circuit racing in the UK. 2012 is sure to be no different, with new cars on track and plenty of thrills and spills. Here are the provisional dates:

Date and circuit:
31 March-1 April
Brands Hatch (Indy), nr Dartford, Kent

28-29 April
Thruxton, nr Andover, Hampshire

9-10 June
Oulton Park (Island), nr Tarporley, Cheshire

23-24 June
Croft, nr Darlington, North Yorkshire

11-12 August
Snetterton (300), nr Attleborough, Norfolk

25-26 August
Knockhill, nr Dunfermline, Fife

22-23 September
Rockingham, nr Corby, Northamptonshire

6-7 October
Silverstone, nr Towcester, Northamptonshire

20-21 October
Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), nr Dartford, Kent

The date of the Donington Park event is yet to be announced, but will not impact the start or finish dates of the 2012 season. BTCC organiser TOCA expects to be in a position to announce that calendar date within the next three weeks.

Audi is releasing a new vehicle into the frantic action of the German touring car series, the DTM. It’s the A5 DTM and it is sure to provide some mighty performance! I’ll add more information as soon as it is available. In the meantime, enjoy this brief interview below with a current DTM driver:

A brief interview with … Mike Rockenfeller

At Silverstone you had the opportunity to witness an ILMC race as a spectator for a change. What were your impressions?
This wasn’t a completely new experience for me. I once watched the race at Road Atlanta as a reserve driver. It’s always nice to be at a race track. I love motorsport even when I’m not driving myself. Of course I prefer sitting in the car. But it’s also good to keep your fingers crossed for the guys for a change and to be part of the team. It’s also very special for me because I hadn’t seen many of them since Le Mans. I was happy to meet all of them again. And it was nice that the mechanics were pleased to see me go to the pits during the race. Le Mans was a very emotional experience for me – this year unfortunately it was a negative one and not as positive as after the victory in 2010. So that made it good to come back here again. And the sports car races are simply great. It’s also fun watching it from the pits.

How do you assess the race?
It was obvious that the Audi R18 TDI was very strong and on an equal footing with the competition. But you could also see that you’ve got to have the perfect race if you want to have a chance of victory. The battle at the front of the field is incredibly close. You can’t afford the slightest mistake and also need a bit of luck. Audi unfortunately didn’t have that at Silverstone.

You’ll be racing again next week in the DTM at Oschersleben. With what expectations will you be traveling to that event?
The aim, clearly, is to win the race. I really like the track. I was running well there even in Formula König and in the Porsche Carrera Cup and did some tests at Oschersleben in my early days as a racer. The track is challenging and suits me pretty well. That’s why I’m particularly looking forward to it. I’m hoping for us to achieve a good set-up again in order to make it onto the two front rows as I last did at Brands Hatch.

The first McLaren MP4-12C GT3 racing cars have now been sold to the following teams:

• ASM Team

• Andrew Tate

• Apex Motorsport

• Boutsen Energy Racing/Ginion Group

• Doerr Motorsport

• Gulf Racing

• J.A.S. Motorsport

• Klaas Hummel

• Leon Price

• Von Ryan Racing

McLaren GT Project Manager Andrew Kirkaldy said: “The new 12C GT3 has gone from its first ever shakedown to a 24 hour endurance race in a matter of a few months. That is a huge achievement for the car and its new componentry, as well as the team responsible for its development.

“Our new customers appreciate that taking a race season to develop the 12C GT3 means we are able to deliver a level of reliability and driveability that exceeds their expectations of new race cars.  Like the 12C road car, the GT3 version is based on a carbon ‘MonoCell’ chassis and has an all-new engine and transmission arrangement, as well as a bespoke aerodynamics package.  In tests and at races this season we have seen these technologies prove to be robust and efficient. Our experiences during this race season are helping us refine the 12C GT3’s technical credentials.”

The standard car is a tour de force of what is actually possible with today’s expertise in producing a supercar – it is by all accounts better in quite literally every way than the Hugely popular Ferrari 458 Italia.  I’ve no doubt that the credentials for the GT3 car are equally as solid and it will be a sight to behold as it roars around the track.

Renault Sport has shown just why their hatchbacks keep winning awards in a number of categories – the new limited edition Mégane Renaultsport 265 Trophy set a new benchmark time for a production-specification front-wheel drive car at the Nürburgring’s infamous Nordschleife circuit. The time set was an extremely quick 8 minutes and 8 seconds.

Laurent Hurgon (development driver, Renault Sport) had the following to say about the record setting lap:
“The Nordschleife is a legendary course. Its length and layout, which is very different to that of a conventional circuit, make it a unique and technically demanding challenge. Its difficulties are extremely varied, ranging from fast and even very fast in places to much twistier and slower portions. Turns like ‘Karusell’ and ‘Pflanzgarten’, for example, make huge demands of the car and driver alike, yet Mégane Renaultsport Trophy is very much in its element here and feels particularly reassuring despite the uncompromising nature of the terrain. The limited slip differential allowed me to accelerate hard out of the countless turns without understeer. The carefully-tuned Cup chassis, the dampers, the fade-resistant brakes, the Recaro seats, the power of the 265hp engine, the ready availability of torque between 2,500 and 5,000rpm and the car’s Bridgestone RE 050A (235/35 R19) tyres allowed me to make the most of the car’s enormous potential, especially into and out of the corners. It is this package which enabled me to post such a quick time round this circuit which you must always approach with a certain degree of humility.”

Well done to everyone involved in the team – this is a great win for front wheel drive cars. As the Megane 265 is such a well balanced and rounded vehicle, I’m not surprised it managed to demolish the previous record.