MG’s XPower SV supercar has embarked on its first serious motorsport competition. It raced over 90 laps in the VdeV Endurance Championships held last weekend at the Jarama Circuit, in Spain as a private entry by Peter Lloyd Racing.
MG describes the XPower SV as a race-bred road car that incorporates a number of track-inspired features. It requires only a modest amount of modification for racing, said MG, 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 seventh 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.
The MG XPower SV has been developed from the start as a road-going track car, so the modifications required to make it race-legal are minimal. The standard integral roll cage needs only a diagonal beam added to make it compliant and its technically advanced carbon composite bodywork is perfect for the race application, being both very light and strong.
With long-arm double wishbone suspension all round, every SV is a natural race-derived formula. MG XPower’s 5.0-litre, 32-valve quad camshaft, all-aluminium V8 engine, found in the SV-R, has been specially tuned by Canadian specialist Sean Hyland. The power is deployed through 18inch five-spoke alloy wheels and brought quickly to standstill by large ventilated four pot Brembo disc brakes.
Weight is the enemy of a sports car and the XPower SV fights it with a feather-light, yet incredibly stiff, carbon composite body shell. The lightweight body construction contributes to the car’s impressive body rigidity and power-to-weight ratio, for a low centre of gravity and improved handling.
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