MG to enter CART with Judd

Judd's Engine Developments Ltd. company has been hard at work on an engine for CART's new formula, but the partnership with MG Rover came together quickly over the last three weeks.

"I am delighted to be involved with the USA's premier motor racing series and our association with John Judd will enable the MG brand to once again be in front of the thousands of fans following the CART series," stated MG Sports and Racing managing director Rob Oldaker.

MG cars were last sold in the USA in the late '70s when the company was part of the British Leyland empire. MG officials on hand for the announcement in Long Beach hinted that the Champ Car effort could lead to a re-launch of the marque in America.

"I'm personally excited to get back into a competitive and technically challenging engine building environment," said Judd, whose 2.6-litre turbo Champ Car engine powered Bobby Rahal to victory at Pocono in 1988. "We'll be pouring head castings next week and we hope to be dyno testing in mid-June. We need to get the engine to teams in October so they can begin testing the new cars."

He added: "I'd say we need to supply four cars to make it do-able. Eight cars would be really good and at a stretch we could do ten."

Judd and MG Rover are optimistic that the engine can be used in modified form at the Indianapolis 500 and in the Indy Racing League.