The deal was clear. The goal of the LMP675 class was to provide lighter prototypes, equipped with less powerful engines than the LMP900s but to be more agile on winding tracks especially. To complete its return at the highest level, the constructor MG called upon the savoir-faire of Lola Cars throughout the 2000 season so as to enter two prototypes compliant with the 675 class technical specificities. The cars carried the name MG-Lola EX257 and were powered by a sparkling 2.0L inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine with 500hp.

An ambitious program and rigorous recruitment! In terms of drivers behind the wheel of the two EX257s entered at the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans, MG availed itself of a particularly formidable batallion, comprised of the fastest British drivers around. So Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Jonny Kane, Mark Blundell, Julian Bailey and Kevin McGarrity shared the No. 33 and No. 34 cars.

The day of the preliminary tests, the fine tuning work was greatly disrupted by significant mechanical issues relegating both cars to the boxes. The rare forays onto the track did however suggest the level of performance that was to be confirmed during the free practice and qualifying session of the 69th edition of the 24 Hours. The two Lola-MGs were devilishly fast by exploiting to perfection the LMP675 regulations. Certainly less powerful than the LMP900s such as Audi, Cadillac, Dome, Chrysler and Courage, the English bullets took advantage of their lighter weight to compensate for their muscular shortcomings. The result was striking: the Reid/Hughes/Kane driver line-up (No. 33) was positioned 13th on the starting grid while the trio Blundell/Bailey/McGarrity (No. 34) ranked 17th ahead of the two official Panoz cars, a Chrysler Oreca and a Courage of the Pescarolo Sport team. By clocking the best time of the team in 3:40:243, Warren Hughes beat the best other LMP675 (Reynard 2KQ-ROC Auto) by more than four seconds per lap!

In the race, the results were disappointing but tinged with greatness. Though the two cars did not rally at the finish of the 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans, their performances were as exceptional as they were unexpected. Observers knew the MG-Lolas were fast LMPs, but when at 5:30 p.m. Mark Blundell clinched fourth place overall behind two Audis and a Bentley, the astonishment was real.

After this first attempt, the official MG team pursued the Le Mans adventure and entered two cars in the 2002 edition of the 24 Hours. The deal was entirely the same, the cars were still two Lola EX257s and the six drivers were rehired. The performances demonstrated the previous year were confirmed and accentuated in 2002. On the starting grid, the No. 26 and No. 27 once again sparked talk about their efficiency. Warren Hughes clocked an incredible lap in 3:33:254 and achieved 6th place on the timesheets. The exploit was such that the Brit was ahead of the two Dallara-Orecas, the two Cadillacs, the No. 8 Bentley and the Audi R8 of Team Goh…among others. The competitive gap in LMP675 was simply abysmal since the private MG-Lola of Knight Hawk Racing clocked its best time in no better than 3:42:441! Unfortunately for the British constructor and its many fans gathered in the grandstands of the 24 Hours circuit, the "Hot Wheels" MGs would not go passed the 10th and 17th hours following engine and gearbox issues. The fragility of the cars was proportional to their amazing velocity!

Though the official team stopped entries in 2003, the MG-Lola EX257s were highly active at European and North American circuits from 2003 to 2006 with Intersport Racing, RML, Chamberlain Engineering, KnightHawk Racing, Dyson Racing, Autocon Motorsports and Highcroft Racing.

Pierre-Yves Riom / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY JUNE 15 2002, RACE. Mark Blundell at the wheel of the Lola-MG EX257 of the official team MG Sport & Racing Ltd.