Leggate joins Hughes in bio-ethanol MGs

Fiona Leggate will return to the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2007 as Kartworld Racing team-mate to Jason Hughes – the pair of them lining up in bio-ethanol-powered MG ZSs.

Lincolnshire lass Leggate, aged 26, was the first driver to run on bio-ethanol in the BTCC when she entered the series in 2005. Preston-based Hughes converted his MG to the environmentally-friendly fuel last season and reported improved engine performance. Indeed, he went on to take his best result to date with a fourth-place finish at Knockhill.

Leggate, who hails from a farming background in Boston, said: “We began talks with Jason at the end of last season and I am pleased to be finally joining Kartworld – there is no doubt that the MGZS has the pace to challenge up front, and I am sure that we can make a big impact this year. It’s great to back in an MG which is where I started racing and learning my trade from the likes of Anthony Reid. It’s also nice to continue something that we started, by running on bio-ethanol! “

Team boss/driver Hughes believes his decision to stick with the older BTC-spec MG ZS will be a shrewd move as the majority of teams switch to cars conforming with the championship’s latest Super 2000 technical regulations. Both he and Leggate will be eligible to fight for the Independents drivers’ and teams’ titles as well as the outright teams’ championship.

Hughes, aged 37, explained: “We did evaluate a number of S2000-spec cars, but felt that the MG has at least one more year in it and can still challenge for podiums and race wins. We are looking to move up to S2000 machinery for 2008, but the MG is more than capable of doing the job for us in 2007.”