MG gets official championship award at FIA gala Dinner, hosted by Jean Todt and John Surtees.

• MG crowned 2014 MSA British Touring Car Championship Manufacturer at MSA Night of Champions
• Trophy presented by FIA President Jean Todt
• Plans confirmed to defend title in 2015 with Triple Eight, Andrew Jordan and Pirtek
• MG also fastest growing automotive brand in 2014
• Major expansion of MG dealer network

MG joined the elite of British motor sport at the MSA Night of Champions, to celebrate winning the 2014 MSA British Touring Car manufacturer trophy.

The event, held at the prestigious Royal Automobile Club on London’s Pall Mall, was hosted by broadcasters Steve Ryder and Louise Goodman. Alan Gow, Chairman of the Motor Sports Association (MSA) welcomed the winners whilst FIA president Jean Todt and Formula 1 and motorcycling legend John Surtees crowned the champions of UK motor sport’s most prestigious titles. 

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Jean Todt presented MG with the 2014 MSA British Touring Car Championship manufacturer trophy following a thrilling year of racing that saw the Triple Eight Racing works MG6GTs defeat four times champions Honda.

Victory in the BTCC completed a fantastic 90th anniversary year for MG that saw the iconic brand become the fastest growing automotive brand in the UK, with sales increasing 361% over 2013. A major expansion of the national dealer network played a key part in the sales growth, with an additional 24 new dealers in locations across the UK including Glasgow, Newcastle, Leicester, Coventry, Bicester, Brecon, Norwich, West London, Swindon, Maidstone, Exeter, Falmouth and Newtownabbey and Bangor in Northern Ireland. Further new dealers are already in the process of being appointed in 2015.

The MG6 also performed on the road receiving major accolades from its customers, who voted it Best Handling car in the 2014 Auto Express Driver Power survey. The MG brand was also voted the third best brand to own in Britain’s largest car owner survey.

After receiving the trophy from Jean Todt, Matthew Cheyne, Head of Marketing for MG, said: “I am delighted to be celebrating this achievement and the fact that we have just successfully completed the negotiations to return and defend our title in 2015 with Triple Eight Racing.

“The team and drivers did a great job in 2014 to secure the manufacturer title for MG and with Andrew Jordan and Pirtek already on board this year; we are looking forward to challenging for both the drivers and manufacturers titles in 2015.”

Andrew Jordan visits Longbridge ahead of BTCC season opener, and collects his new MG3

• New MG ace Andrew Jordan sets sights on 2015 BTCC crown
• Visit to MG’s Birmingham operation marks countdown to season
• Collects new MG3 – and tunes in!

MG’s new race star, Andrew Jordan, laid down the gauntlet when he visited the iconic Longbridge factory to mark the three month countdown to the start of the new season.

Looking lean and mean, the ultra-quick driver who became the youngest ever champion in the history of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship when he captured the winner’s crown in 2013, said he was determined to re-claim the championship again in 2015.

Last year MG and Triple Eight Racing took the BTCC Manufacturer/Constructor title and Andrew visited the MG factory to get an insight into MG, the fastest growing car brand in the UK. 

Accompanied by his father Mike, an ever-present guide in Andrew’s hugely impressive career, Andrew (25) had a peek behind the scenes into some of the operations at MG’s Birmingham headquarters.

Representatives from Pirtek UK, one of MG’s new partners supporting the Triple Eight Racing prepared MG6’s and Andrew’s longest running sponsor under the ‘Pirtek Racing’ banner, were also shown around the iconic Longbridge site.

Andrew and his fellow guests were able to gain an insight into the MG business both in the UK and abroad and he was introduced to a variety of people involved in designing, engineering and building the fast-selling MG3 and multi-award winning MG6.

With his Triple Eight race engineered MG6 GT now ready to start its pre-season testing programme, Andrew said he was just itching to get behind the wheel for the first time.

Meanwhile he collected his new MG3 from the MG Sales Centre, based at the factory site and the sales team enjoyed showing their newest celebrity customer the wide range of features and benefits that his new car has to offer.

Andrew said: “I just can’t wait to get started. I love the MG3, it’s a really funky little machine. I love the detail in everything down to the seats and even the red trim on the mats. I’m looking forward to giving it a good run out when we go testing in February and March.

“I think we’re going to have a really competitive season and there’s a few things that we’re looking to try out that I’m confident will help us bring even more out of the MG6, which has proven to be a really competitive package. Make no mistake about it, I’m here to win.” 

MG’s Head of Marketing, Matthew Cheyne, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome Andrew, Mike and the team from Pirtek UK to Longbridge. We’re confident that with Andrew and Triple Eight Racing in tandem, we are going to have a great year on the track. But we’re also very excited at the prospects off track too as we develop relationships with our new team partners Pirtek Racing.

“Andrew looks great in his MG3 and we know he will help bring this car to a wider audience, just as his racing will continue to do with the MG6.

“It was a bit of an eye-opener when he asked the MG Sales Centre team to pre-set Radio 1 on the DAB radio in the MG3, but then you have to remember that despite already being an experienced racer and champion, he’s still a very young driver and that’s doubly exciting for the future.”

The first race of the 2015 season will be at the world-famous Brand’s Hatch circuit on the weekend of April 4/5.