Taken from http://www.autosport.com/
Greetings Jouke Bloem
The Netherlands
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Lola Cars will build a sports racer to bring the MG
name back to the La Sarthe next year
The MG name will return to Le Mans in 2001 with a car
designed, built and developed by Lola Cars.
Rover Group Ltd, which owns MG, and Lola Cars are both part
of the Phoenix consortium. As part of a major image
re-building exercise for the British manufacturer, Lola is also set to
build Rover 45s for
the British Touring Car Championship.
Commenting on the MG Lola project, Martin Birrane, the executive
chairman of Lola Cars
said: “This is an historic day in the history of Lola Cars International
Ltd. It’s been my aim
since taking over the company in 1997 to be involved with a major
manufacturer, and to
be in partnership with a marque such as MG is an honour.
“Everyone at Lola is very proud to be associated with such a great
British name.
Hopefully, we can add to the legendary history of the MG name by giving
it success at Le
Mans.”
MG’s Le Mans record includes five class wins, with the final one coming
in 1963.
Today’s (Friday’s) announcement does not specify whether the MG Lola
will be entered in
the LMP900 class or the lighter, but less powerful LMP675 class, but
speculation points
to the latter. Lola ran cars in both classes at Le Mans this year,
taking an LMP675 class
win with its B2K/40 SR2 machine.
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