MARDI GRAS SWITCHES TO BTCC-SPEC PEUGEOT 406
Green Flag MSA British Touring Car Championship team Mardi
Gras Motorsport has said it will plough ahead with gas-powered
technology after deciding to replace its Honda Civic Type
R with a Peugeot 406.
The Silverstone-based squad made national headlines by becoming
the BTCC’s first team to use LPG technology. However,
it admits that its Civic, which runs to European Touring Car
regulations, remains overweight. The team believes it stands
a much better chance of moving up the grid with the BTCC-spec
Peugeot that won the championship’s Independents Trophy
in 2002.
It will miss the next two race meetings at Oulton Park, 22/23
May and Mondello Park before returning for the second half
of the 2004 season.
“The BTCC organisers have been very generous with reducing
the weight allowance for ETCC-spec cars to help balance out
performance, but this particular Civic is always going to
be close to 100kgs overweight,” said Mardi Gras team
manager Paul Hetherington.
“We have acquired the Peugeot 406 from Vic Lee, whose
team ran it to the Independents title in 2002 and who has
been extremely generous and helpful in putting together a
deal for us.
“We will need to crack on with converting the 406 to
LPG technology as time will undoubtedly pass quickly and our
driver John George will need to test the car. We are confident
that when we return we will be able to quickly challenge the
mid-field runners and score points.”
|
