A great 2001 for MG.

MG made their motorsport return in 2001 - and immediately made a big impact in that high-speed world. The brand new MG Lola EX257 sportscar showed its pace at the 2001 Le Mans 24-Hour race, the cars easily quickest in the LMP 675 class, Anthony Reid setting a time in No.34 good enough for 14th overall on the 48-car grid. Later in the year, it was again Reid who showed what MG Sport and Racing can do on the track - taking the marque's first British Touring Car Championship win. MG were back in style!

The team took two of the two-litre turbocharged sportscars to the French endurance classic, and were able to demonstrate the pace of the cars in the build up the big race - lapping the 8.45 mile circuit seconds quicker that their class rivals. The opening few hours of the race took place in heavy rain, and at one point the lead MG was as high as third overall. The unique challenge that Le Mans represents for a race car was the supreme test for the new cars on their debut, and despite the conditions they raced on - the second MG only retiring just past the half-way mark in the race, having completed 92 laps.

Rob Oldaker, managing director, MG Sport & Racing Limited, said immediately after the race: ''We are immensely proud to have brought MG back to Le Mans, and, frankly it has been beyond our expectations to have been running as high as third and to have completed more than half the race time! This has always been our learning year and now we are confident that we will have the right package to make MG even more successful next year.''

After that Le Mans success, the focus was on the BTCC, and the long awaited debut of MG Sport and Racing at Silverstone in September. The team only joined the series for the final three meetings of the 2001 season, but the MGs rapidly matched the pace of the established teams, who had the advantage of months more test and development work than the debutante MG squad.

Highlight of the Touring Car campaign was a superb win for the MG ZS EX259 at a rain-soaked Brands Hatch circuit in October at the final meeting of the year, with Anthony Reid at the wheel - following up the new car's first pole position by Warren Hughes the day before.

Reid's comments at the time sum up his feelings about the win - and his 2001 season: "My involvement with MG has been very exciting, and a great success, so to give the company their first win is a source of great personal pride. At Le Mans we exceeded all our expectations with what we achieved, and Brands Hatch was just an amazing way to finish a season."

For 2002, the team aim to build on their 2001 successes, and challenge the best in every sphere of motorsport they contest, and you can follow them every step of the way right here. For latest race news and the best insights into MG Sport and Racing throughout the year make sure you visit regularly - as we race together into the New Year!