MEDIA RELEASE:
MG ZT-T TOPS 225 MPH AT BONNEVILLE SPEED WEEK
... MG IN LINE FOR A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD
MG Rover Group has applied to the Guinness World Records for the
World's Fastest Estate car / Station Wagon record. The MG ZT-T,
codenamed X-15, reached a top speed of 225.609 mph (360.9 km/h) at the
August 2003, 55th annual Bonneville Speed Week Nationals, on the Salt
Flats in Utah, USA.
In 2002 Nick Stephenson, deputy chairman of Phoenix Venture Holdings,
himself an accomplished drag racer in the UK, together with MG Rover
design director Peter Stevens, of McLaren F1 fame, decided to build a
200 mph estate derived from the forthcoming MG ZT-T V8.
Their reasoning was four-fold: to leverage MG's illustrious Bonneville
history which dates back to 1951 and a string of records; to
demonstrate the fundamental qualities of strength and safety inherent
in the MG ZT range; to halo the introduction of some exciting new
V8-powered MG models and to support engine development work for the
planned ultra high performance versions of MG's XPower SV sports car.
"This is not just about setting world records, this is about testing
MG's vehicles to their limits, in some of the most extreme conditions
you can find in the world. The added challenges of meeting strict
technical and safety regulations which are set by the Southern
California Timing Association make our achievement of 225.609 mph with
a virtually stock MG ZT-T all the more satisfying," says Peter Stevens.
MG can trace its land speed racing roots back to the early 1930s and
its Bonneville roots back to 1951 when Lt. Col AT 'Goldie' Gardner ran
a streamliner powered by a crank-driven supercharged production 1250 cc
4-cylinder MG TD engine. Goldie planned an assault on numerous
records, both in a straight line and around a specially surfaced
10-mile circular course. Despite rain cutting short the attempts, at
the end of the week he had accumulated a total of 16 records with a
fastest run slightly over 145 mph.
Famous names such as Stirling Moss and Phil Hill have set records
driving for MG in the harsh and challenging environment of the Utah
salt desert. Daily temperatures of more than 100 degF/38 deg C, the
high altitude and the low grip surface of the smooth salt have always
meant that high-speed record breaking at Bonneville is never easy.
So in 2002, MG Rover approached the legendary, California-based, So-Cal
Speed Shop to build and run the car. Custom car specialists So-Cal are
professional land speed racers, well known for their Bonneville
achievements in the late-forties and early-fifties.
Roush Performance was chosen for the powertrain development and they
delivered an awesome 6.0-litre V8 with electronic fuel injection that
develops 765 horsepower without the aid of an intercooler, let alone a
blower or turbo. More than enough, it was felt, to propel the ZT-T to
its goal of 200 mph.
Initial testing of the car in May and June of this year at El Mirage
Dry Lake indicated that the goal was, in fact, achievable. On its very
first official "shakedown" pass the ZT-T ran 164 mph. The following
month, now with sponsorship from Mobil 1, the car made a licensing pass
at 181.521 mph.
New vehicles which are running for the first time at Bonneville are
required to run on the short course at a speed of more than 175 mph,
before being allowed to run on the long course where speeds are
measured at three, four and five mile markers as well as the terminal
speed.
A further two miles are available for slowing the cars. Cars running at
over 185 mph are required to fit speed reducing parachutes. These
'chutes safely slow the cars in a stable manner to around 100 mph after
which the brakes are used to stop at the seven mile marker.
In August, the So-Cal Racing Team accompanied by Nick, Peter, and the
Roush crew made the 700-plus mile trek to Bonneville where the car was
so "on target" it was almost an anticlimax as driver, Bonneville
veteran Pat Kinne clicked off a licensing pass of 207 mph on the
Bonneville 'short course', backed up with a blistering 223 mph pass on
the long course. Some minor pitch-attitude tweaking saw the ZT-T make
a final run at 225.609 mph (306.9 km/h).
"Bonneville and record breaking is a very important part of MG
history," says Nick Stephenson. "225 mph with our ZT-T is part of our
future, because it signals the direction for further high performance
models."
"Having the ratification for a world record would be the icing on the
cake," said So-Cal President Pete Chapouris, "However, regardless of
that record, we are totally ecstatic with the performance of the MG
ZT-T which exceeded our goal of a 200 mph estate by a comfortable
margin."
"We were completely thrilled," said Peter Stevens. "We had high hopes
that the X-15 would perform as predicted, but in a competitive
situation, exaggerated by the extremely harsh environment of
Bonneville, you can never be certain. Not only are we tremendously
pleased with the outright achievement, but that this form of extreme
performance testing has demonstrated the capability of future
powertrain and chassis developments."
Note to Editors:
Speed limit 1000 mph
There are few places left on earth where the unabashed pursuit of speed
is tolerated. But at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA, such
behaviour is actively encouraged. The speed limit here is 1000 mph.
Although cars have been driven at their limit for more than 80 years on
the salt, for the last 40 years or so, hot rodders, speed enthusiasts
and professional teams, intent on pushing the limits of their
equipment, have met for the Southern California Timing Association's
Bonneville Speed Week. Here, attempts on the World Land Speed Record
are made, as well as on many other speed records, by both individuals
and major automotive manufacturers. Land speed records of all kinds
have been made, and smashed, year after year, in the single minded
pursuit of speed.
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