Low-cost MG3 racer track debut at Castle Combe

The low-cost MG3 racer made its debut at the Castle Combe circuit in March – the perfect track for a car with an economical price tag.

Interns at the SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre were tasked with constructing the vehicle, using an ex-engineering car as their donor vehicle.

Their brief was to create a car with low-cost motorsport at front of mind. As such, they were given a minimal budget of just £5,000 to convert the vehicle into a racer to a specification that allows the car to compete in a Club championship, which has a low-cost ethos.

MG3 will participate in Class A (standard – road going cars) of the MG Cup in 2019, which will allow for a season of testing and development, as well as point scoring.

The MG Cup is over 30 years old, and is designed to challenge both new and experienced drivers. It boasts a deliberately simple structure and regulations designed to keep costs low for participants.

The regulations allow any MG3 model to be converted and race, which provides potential competitors the opportunity to race the most cutting-edge MG models on track – something that wasn’t previously possible in the Car Club’s championships.

In keeping with the Car Club’s low-cost philosophy, and to encourage more young drivers to get involved, the MG Car Club also offers half price entries to any competitor aged 25 and under for the 2019 season.

This means entry fees for a weekend could be as low as £300 for competitors in this age bracket.

Adam Sloman, general manager of The MG Car Club commented: “We are delighted to be involved in bringing the latest iteration of MG cars to race circuits up and down the country.

Motorsport is a huge part of MG and the Club’s heritage, and we are very much invested in bringing new cars, drivers and young competitors to our grids in the future.