AN HISTORIC RACE DEBUT FOR MG XPOWER'S SV SUPERCAR

MG's XPower SV supercar has embarked on its first serious motorsport competition as a private entry by Peter Lloyd Racing, competing in the VdeV Endurance Championships held last weekend at the Jarama Circuit, in Spain.

The XPower SV is a race-bred road car that incorporates a number of track-inspired features. It requires only a modest amount of modification for racing, work carried out in this instance by Birmingham-based racecar preparation specialists JP Motorsport, to enable it to compete in the endurance race series that started on Sunday 20 March.

With only three weeks of preparation and no pre-race track testing, the SV's first race was as much a shake-down as a full-blooded attempt on the race title and the car was pulled in for several time-consuming, non-standard pit stops to check vital components. As a result, the team was more than satisfied with a trouble-free performance over four fast-paced, punishing hours and 90 laps of the Jarama Circuit in baking heat, to finish a highly creditable 33rd position overall (out of 43 starters) and 7th in class (subject to confirmation).

The Jarama race is one of eight in the VdeV Endurance Championships, which is part of the Federation of French Sportscar Association races (FFSA) and includes visits to Spa Francorchamps, the infamous Belgian Grand Prix Circuit; Magny Cours, home of the French Grand Prix; Circuit Paul Ricard and many other notable French circuits.

Peter Lloyd is probably better known for his former Lloyd's Chemist Group business, but his passion and success in historic and endurance racing is well recognised. The Peter Lloyd Racing SV-R is finished in Pearl Black with twin XPower Green stripes and is running his lucky number 66 on the doors.