MG In Line For A Guinness World Record

Roush Performance was chosen for the powertrain development and they delivered an awesome 6.0-litre V8 with electronic fuel injection that develops 765 horsepower without the aid of an intercooler, let alone a blower or turbo. More than enough, it was felt, to propel the ZT-T to its goal of 200 mph.

Initial testing of the car in May and June of this year at El Mirage Dry Lake indicated that the goal was, in fact, achievable. On its very first official "shakedown" pass the ZT-T ran 164 mph. The following month, now with sponsorship from Mobil 1, the car made a licensing pass at 181.521 mph.

New vehicles which are running for the first time at Bonneville are required to run on the short course at a speed of more than 175 mph, before being allowed to run on the long course where speeds are measured at three, four and five mile markers as well as the terminal speed.

A further two miles are available for slowing the cars. Cars running at over 185 mph are required to fit speed reducing parachutes. These ’chutes safely slow the cars in a stable manner to around 100 mph after which the brakes are used to stop at the seven mile marker.

In August, the So-Cal Racing Team accompanied by Nick, Peter, and the Roush crew made the 700-plus mile trek to Bonneville where the car was so "on target" it was almost an anticlimax as driver, Bonneville veteran Pat Kinne clicked off a licensing pass of 207 mph on the Bonneville ‘short course’, backed up with a blistering 223 mph pass on the long course. Some minor pitch-attitude tweaking saw the ZT-T make a final run at 225.609 mph (306.9 km/h).

"Bonneville and record breaking is a very important part of MG history," says Nick Stephenson. "225 mph with our ZT-T is part of our future, because it signals the direction for further high performance models."

"Having the ratification for a world record would be the icing on the cake," said So-Cal President Pete Chapouris, "However, regardless of that record, we are totally ecstatic with the performance of the MG ZT-T which exceeded our goal of a 200 mph estate by a comfortable margin."

"We were completely thrilled," said Peter Stevens. "We had high hopes that the X-15 would perform as predicted, but in a competitive situation, exaggerated by the extremely harsh environment of Bonneville, you can never be certain. Not only are we tremendously pleased with the outright achievement, but that this form of extreme performance testing has demonstrated the capability of future powertrain and chassis developments."

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