West Surrey Racing to run MG’s BTCC effort

WSR was left high and dry by Honda's pull-out at the end of 2000, but now looks certain to run a team of MG-badged 45s in the second half of this season.

Ray Mallock Limited, which won BTCC titles for Nissan in 1998 and '99, has now fallen out of the Rover equation. The team wanted to design and build the 45s itself as well as running them, but the board of Phoenix - which now owns Rover and includes race car constructor Lola - refused to agree.

In turn, RML did not want to run cars designed and built by another party, so the planned link-up hit the rocks.

It appears that WSR may assist Lola in the design of the cars and could even be responsible for their build. The team has been geared up for such an undertaking since it prepared in vain to take over the full Ford Mondeo programme for 1999.

WSR boss Dick Bennetts said: "We've been invited to a meeting with Lola - that's all I can say. We've got experience in designing and building Super Production cars [the Dutch series Renault Clio] and we've got expertise in developing and modifying Super Touring cars."

RML favourites David Leslie and Anthony Reid are expected to remain in contention for drives despite the team's pull-out.

Reid said: "I'm very keen to stay in the BTCC. I feel I've got the ability to win the championship and that might be possible in the MG. I've been speaking with [Lola boss] Martin Birrane quite a lot."