MG Announces Andrew Jordon and Pirtek as the new signings for 2015 BTCC - Looking good so far.

• Andrew Jordan to drive MG6GT for MG/Triple Eight Racing manufacturer team in 2015
• MG/Triple Eight defending manufacturer champions
• Jordan moves from Eurotech Honda Civic
• Pirtek to continue successful sponsorship of Jordan with MG
• 2015 MG6GT BTCC on display at Autosport International, NEC, Birmingham from 8^th Jan.

MG is delighted to announce that Andrew Jordan will join the MG/Triple Eight Racing manufacturer team to challenge for the 2015 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.  The British Touring Car ace, Andrew Jordan has signed a one year deal to drive a factory-supported MG6 GT with the reigning manufacturer-constructor champions.

Jordan, 2013 BTCC champion and a 14-times race winner, has switched to Triple Eight Racing from the family-run Eurotech Racing Honda Civic to drive the MG that clinched the 2014 Manufacturer-Constructor title last season, and proved to consistently be the fastest front-wheel-drive car on the grid.

Bringing Jordan into the MG team is a prospect to excite MG fans worldwide. MG Motor head of marketing Matthew Cheyne, said: “Defending the championship from last year and teaming up with someone like Andrew, who is obviously a great ambassador for the sport, but will also be a great ambassador for our brand, is hugely important.”

“He’s incredibly personable and dynamic. He is just an exciting guy to work with and he fits our demographic for our customer. When you look at our product, not just the MG6 but the MG3 too, Andrew and his generation are absolutely the sort of people we are aiming at; it fits so well. We want to defend the makes title, but going for the drivers title is key and with Andrew we have got the best chance ever.”

“By joining MG and Triple Eight, I can build something exciting for the future,” said the excited Red Bull-backed racer. “Joining this team gives me the best chance I will have of winning the championship again – it is as simple as that. I’m certainly looking further ahead than just the end of this year. There are many options for me here, and that is what makes this such an exciting deal.  I’m returning to Triple Eight with a lot more experience to try and lead the team to the championship; it’s a hugely exciting challenge.”

The 25-year-old, who replaces two-time champion Jason Plato, brings with him backing from long-term sponsor, Pirtek, famous for its striking blue, yellow and red livery, which will now adorn the shapely MG6. The move will mark the first time Pirtek has been the headline sponsor of a fully-works supported car in the series, an opportunity that Jordan describes as ‘fabulous’.

Triple Eight Racing founder and Team Principal, Ian Harrison adds “There aren’t many people out there who can replace a driver like Plato. We looked around and Andrew was the obvious choice. His age, his profile and his speed – which goes without saying – make him a pretty straightforward choice; it was a bit of a no-brainer for us. We wish him luck this year, and I am sure we will be firing broadsides at each other throughout the season.”

Fans will be able to check out the Pirtek-liveried MG6 GT this weekend (10/11 January 2015) at the Autosport International event, held at Birmingham’s NEC where it will take centre stage on the Dunlop Stand (Hall: 6 Stand: 6440).

Media and trade attendees are invited to attend the Dunlop stand at 10am on Thursday 8th January for a formal unveiling of Jordan with the 2015 BTCC MG6 GT .

ŠKODA launches special Tour De France editions to celebrate being title sponsor of event.

• Unique versions of Yeti, Octavia and Superb for cycling fans
• Launched to celebrate Tour de France starting in the UK
• ŠKODA’s cycling sponsorship also headlining Goodwood Festival of Speed
• Win VIP hospitality tickets to the race

ŠKODA’s association with cycling dates back 119 years, when the Czech brand started out making pedal-powered two-wheelers. Today it’s respected as a global partner of the sport, and is celebrating the UK stages of the Tour de France with three stunning limited edition models.

ŠKODA Tour de France (TdF) limited editions

To mark the first three race stages taking place in the UK, ŠKODA is launching unique limited edition versions of the Yeti, Octavia and Superb.

Each has been designed with the keen cyclist in mind, and comes with ‘le Tour de France’ badging, waterproof seat covers and bike wheel bags – all of which feature the Tour de France logo. In addition, customers will receive a centenary edition of the Rouleur Tour de France book and a competition entry to win a VIP Tour de France experience.

Available in either Red, White or Blue^* – the national colours of both the UK and France – only 198 examples of each car are available to customers. That’s the exact number of cyclists entered into this year's race.

Priced at £23,490, the Yeti TdF is based on the Outdoor SE 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4x4 model. Additional specification includes an Amundsen satellite navigation system with DAB digital radio, Keyless Entry and Start System, floor mats and an internal bike rack.

The Superb TdF is priced at £28,490 and is based on the Estate Outdoor 2.0-litre TDI 140PS 4x4 and has the same enhancements as the Yeti, along with a space saver spare wheel and boot net programme.

Priced at £24,290, the Octavia TdF is based on the Estate SE 2.0-litre TDI 150PS 4x4 model. It has the same enhancements as the Yeti and Superb, with the addition of roof bars and a roof-mounted bike carrier instead of an internal one.

ŠKODA at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed

With the famous race starting on 5 July, this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed – just a week before, on 26–29 June – was the obvious place for ŠKODA’s cycling credentials to take centre stage. Visitors will even get the chance to win VIP hospitality tickets to see the cycling action.

Visitors to the ŠKODA pavilion at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed will be invited to ‘Ride the Summit’ with the chance to stand on top of the podium against the spectacular backdrop of Goodwood House. The ŠKODA pavilion will also house a cycling simulator challenge and merchandise store, plus there will be the chance to win a VIP Tour de France experience. Younger visitors can get creative and design the actual ‘King of the Mountains’ jersey which will be used on the 2014 Tour of Britain, staged in September.

The multi-award-winning range of ŠKODA cars will be on show, and as in previous years, ŠKODA will be the main attraction at the Goodwood Forest Rally stage, situated at the top of the hill climb course. The challenging woodland course will play host to our multi-championship-winning ŠKODA Fabia S2000, and drivers will include ex-Works star Neil Simpson with co-driver Clare Mole.

*ŠKODA Yeti TdF– Corrida Red, Moon White or Petrol Blue

*ŠKODA Octavia TdF – Rio Red, Moon White or Race Blue

*ŠKODA Superb TdF in Moon White or Petrol Blue only

Land Rover Sponsors 2015 Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

Land Rover today announced that it is to be Presenting Partner of the official Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour which will travel around the world ahead of next year’s tournament in England. Land Rover’s support, alongside fellow Worldwide Partner DHL, will enable the international Trophy Tour to visit 15 different countries during the next 13 months. The famous Webb Ellis Cup will visit traditional rugby markets such as Australia and South Africa as well as several countries for the first time where Rugby is growing fast from a smaller base such as Kenya and Germany.  

Today at Twickenham Stadium, Tournament Organisers England Rugby 2015 held a press conference to mark 500 days until the start of Rugby World Cup 2015. The official Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour will depart the UK for Japan later this month, before visiting Australia, Fiji, Madagascar and South Africa in the next two months. The Trophy will visit schools, rugby clubs and Land Rover facilities and dealerships as well as being taken to some more unusual locations as part of the Tour.

Speaking on the announcement, Jaguar Land Rover Global Brand Experience Director Mark Cameron said: “Land Rover is already a proud Worldwide Partner, and Official Vehicle Supplier, of Rugby World Cup 2015, but today’s announcement marks an extension to that support with a commitment to help raise awareness, and build excitement ahead of next year’s Tournament and grow interest in the sport through the first ever official international Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour.

“Land Rover has a proud heritage within Rugby in the UK and around the world, and through the trophy visits we will help celebrate Rugby in all four corners of the globe – as only Land Rover can.  At each location, Land Rover will help to safely transport the Webb Ellis Cup somewhere it has never visited before, involving unique and interesting communities where, in some countries, they are completely new to Rugby.   We are looking forward to capturing some fantastic stories and experiences which will be shared with Rugby fans of all nations on the journey to September 2015.”

Chief Executive Officer of England Rugby 2015, Debbie Jevans, said: “We are very excited to announce the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour plans. This gives us a unique opportunity to celebrate rugby around the world in the lead up to 2015, engaging and exciting rugby fans and potential new audiences ahead of the Tournament. Visiting 15 countries, including nations qualified for RWC 2015 and emerging rugby markets, gives us an opportunity to showcase the global game and its shared values. In Land Rover and DHL, we have two brilliant partners who are longstanding supporters of rugby, and we look forward to the start of the tour in Japan later this month."

The full schedule of the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour, in association with Land Rover and DHL, is:

23 – 25 May	Japan
19 – 20 June	Australia
26 – 28 June	Fiji
2 – 5 July	Madagascar
14 – 15 July	Kenya
18 – 21 August	South Africa
9 – 10 October	Argentina
11 – 12 October	Uruguay
27 – 28 October	Hong Kong
30 – 31 October	China
11 – 13 November	New York
28 – 29 November	Dubai
13 – 14 January	Italy
17 – 18 February	Germany

Furygan riders kick off new season in style.

Furygan supported riders enjoyed a thrilling opening to the Grand Prix racing season yesterday at Losail in Qatar, with Spanish rider Esteve Rabat taking victory in the Moto2 race.

Rabat started the Moto2 season in the best possible way, taking the chequered flag by just 0.04s. Despite qualifying on pole, the 24 year-old slipped to fifth place on lap one, but a swift recovery and a series of phenomenal exchanges with second-placed Takaaki Nakagami gave the Spaniard his third Moto2 win.

Fellow Furygan supported Sam Lowes enjoyed a strong GP debut as he came home in seventh place, but was subsequently promoted to sixth following the disqualification of Nakagami.

Lowes was able to enjoy a fairly quiet race, but the 2013 World Supersport champion showed impressive speed in what was his first appearance at this level and his first time riding at the circuit. Johann Zarco was caught up in a first lap crash that ultimately restricted him to a 23^rd place finish.

In MotoGP, Mike Di Meglio finished over a minute behind race winner Marc Marquez in 17^th place and in Moto3, Jules Danilo wasn’t classified in the first race of the season.

The grand prix riders will go head-to-head once again when the paddock arrives in Austin, Texas in three weeks’ time, 11-13 April.

Prior to that, the CEV Moto2 and CEV Moto3 championships head to Jerez, where Xavi Vierge and Kyle Ryde will be kicking off their seasons. Meanwhile Seb Gimbert, David Muscat and Axel Maurin will head to Le Mans for round one of the French Superbike Championship.