The son of one of Britain’s greatest aviation pioneers is opening an MG dealership – with the help of race ace and pilot Jason Plato.
Rivervale in Brighton will become the newest MG dealership in Britain when it opens for business on February 25. The firm’s Chairman, Thomas Sopwith, is the son of Sir Thomas Sopwith who invented the famous Sopwith Camel biplane.
Jason Plato, who will drive a racing MG6 GT for MG KX Momentum Racing in the 2012 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, will make a guest appearance at the opening.
Jason holds a private pilot’s licence and until recently owned a Piper Malibu Mirage and flies an Agusta 109 Power helicopter, one of the fastest helicopters of its size in the world.
Rivervale MG has a three car showroom in Victoria Road, Portslade, and has a staff of six MG colleagues headed by Director, Neil Chapman. As well as selling the MG6 GT fastback and MG6 Magnette sports saloon, the new dealership has a full service and parts operation.
Neil Chapman said: “There has already been a tremendous amount of interest in the new generation of MGs and having such a talented driver as Jason Plato here for our opening is just fantastic.
“Mind you I will be closely watching my demonstrators in case the temptation gets too much for Jason and he decides to take one out for an extra practice run!”
Jason, who will be challenging for his third BTCC championship in the MG6, said: “The MG6 is a great driver’s car, but I restrict my high-speed driving to the track.”
Both the award-winning MG6 GT fastback and MG6 Magnette sports saloons will be available for test drives and Rivervale can arrange finance options.
The cars are designed and engineered at MG Motor UK’s Birmingham factory where final assembly of the UK models also takes place.
The MG6 recently won the What Car? 2012 Security Award. Jason will be partnered in the BTCC by rising star Andy Neate, also behind the wheel of an MG6 GT.
Rivervale becomes the second new MG dealership to open in the UK in 2012 following Pinkstones MG in Stoke-on-Trent.
