[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[RS67]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Yes, but that deal fell through, and the firm has now appointed KPMG as a result of COVID-19 impacts.

'The 40-year-old Essex firm, famed for its engineering expertise on road and track, was due to receive an injection of cash from a new investor earlier this year, but Covid-19 interrupted the deal. It's now back on the market, with hopes for a quick turnaround so it can return to pre-lockdown form.'

Their press release (which was quoted by Moneyseeker) regarding the appointment of KPMG is dated 17 Aug 2020.

Andrew Williams: "We are owned by a venture capital business who have decided to realise their part of their investment in the group. We have appointed KPMG to find the right new investor to assist management in realising our current plans."

Prospective investors have already been viewing tha facilities.
What doesn't help is some media outlets completely getting the wrong end of the stick and reporting that Mountune are going into administration.

[mark_l]

Originally Posted by RS67

Prospective investors have already been viewing tha facilities.
What doesn't help is some media outlets completely getting the wrong end of the stick and reporting that Mountune are going into administration.

They are just seeking investors to help make their plans move forward, quite common practise but KPMG are most well known in the general public as the accountants who deal with company adminstrations, and there have been several of those in the mainstream media in the last few weeks.

I don't think there is any cause for concern with Mountune.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by mark_l

They are just seeking investors to help make their plans move forward, quite common practise but KPMG are most well known in the general public as the accountants who deal with company adminstrations, and there have been several of those in the mainstream media in the last few weeks.

I don't think there is any cause for concern with Mountune.

More on this from car dealer magazine.

Performance part manufacturer Mountune is seeking a potential buyer or investment partner, it has announced, following the apparent departure of its founder last month.

Established in 1980, the Essex-based company specialises in performance parts for Ford models – particularly the Fiesta, Focus and Mustang. In recent years, it set up an additional facility in Los Angeles to cater to the burgeoning American market, where it also offers parts for Ford’s best-seller F150 pick-up.

Here in the UK Mountune has a close relationship with Ford Motor Company itself, with many of its packages sold in dealers and backed up by Ford’s standard vehicle warranties.


It now appears that its founder and technical director, David Mountain, has left the business – resigning as director last month, leaving a question mark over the future direction of the company.

Accounts for the tuner are now overdue by almost a year, with the last published figures – those for the financial year ending December 2017 – show a trading loss of £107,429.

A possible outcome could be the purchase of Mountune by Ford itself, following the precedent set by the likes of BMW and Alpina, or Mercedes-Benz and AMG.


However, as the partnership currently extends only to Ford models sold in Britain – and similar tuning companies like Roush command more sales in Ford’s home market of the USA – this seems unlikely.

Mountune have been approached for comment on Mountain’s resignation

[RS67]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

More on this from car dealer magazine.

Performance part manufacturer Mountune is seeking a potential buyer or investment partner, it has announced, following the apparent departure of its founder last month.

Established in 1980, the Essex-based company specialises in performance parts for Ford models – particularly the Fiesta, Focus and Mustang. In recent years, it set up an additional facility in Los Angeles to cater to the burgeoning American market, where it also offers parts for Ford’s best-seller F150 pick-up.

Here in the UK Mountune has a close relationship with Ford Motor Company itself, with many of its packages sold in dealers and backed up by Ford’s standard vehicle warranties.


It now appears that its founder and technical director, David Mountain, has left the business – resigning as director last month, leaving a question mark over the future direction of the company.

Accounts for the tuner are now overdue by almost a year, with the last published figures – those for the financial year ending December 2017 – show a trading loss of £107,429.

A possible outcome could be the purchase of Mountune by Ford itself, following the precedent set by the likes of BMW and Alpina, or Mercedes-Benz and AMG.


However, as the partnership currently extends only to Ford models sold in Britain – and similar tuning companies like Roush command more sales in Ford’s home market of the USA – this seems unlikely.

Mountune have been approached for comment on Mountain’s resignation

Dave Mountain has only resigned as one of the Directors, he is staying on with the company as a consultant.

[thetool]

Originally Posted by mark_l

I don't think there is any cause for concern with Mountune.

They aren't in administration, yet, but they do very much have significant problems. They are almost a year late in posting 2018 accounts, and in fact 2019 accounts will be due next month too. That is never a good sign for any business.

The business itself is actually owned by a private equity firm who own the equity on behalf of customers. Not necessarily the most stable of long-term ownership.

[Alfisti]

I've heard - and cannot repeat - a name very much interested in acquiring. No doubt trying to leverage the buying price down, but I would genuinely be shocked if Mountune did not prevail.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

I've heard - and cannot repeat - a name very much interested in acquiring. No doubt trying to leverage the buying price down, but I would genuinely be shocked if Mountune did not prevail.

Prodrive?

[BertMk2]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Prodrive?

That would be my guess.

[bella]

aren’t they in a bit of bother themselves?

[thetool]

Aren't most motorsport engineering companies currently? Not exactly the most secure market at the moment. Nothing like uncertainty to encourage customers to put off upgrading to newer vehicles. Suddenly keeping those older cars looks more attractive than splashing out on the 2021-spec revision.

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Moneyseeker

Prodrive?

Why would Prodrive want it? They already own Tickford and have a sizable engine facility in Banbury

[Sodemo]

M-Sport?

[billy bleach]

Originally Posted by Sodemo

M-Sport?

The same Msport took the Ford Motrsport contract away from Mountune!!

[RS67]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

The same Msport took the Ford Motrsport contract away from Mountune!!

What Ford Motorsport contract?

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

The same Msport took the Ford Motrsport contract away from Mountune!!

The same M-Sport who have the contract to supply the TOCA engine from 2022 instead of Swindon?

[S griffin]

Whatever happened to Zetec? Are they still around? Been a while since I heard from them

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

The same Msport took the Ford Motrsport contract away from Mountune!!

Originally Posted by RS67

What Ford Motorsport contract?

The contract to build/tune engines for the Ford Motorsport WRC contract.

In 1997 Ford selected M-Sport to run their WRC campaign.
In 1998 Ford selected M-Sport to design and build the Focus RS WRC.
When the Focus RS WRC was launched, Mountune were a long way along the development path, so continued as the engine builder/tuner for the 1999 season.
Then, during 1999, M-Sport took the engine tuning contract for the Ford Motorsport away from Mountune and gave it to Cosworth.
This eventually was then given to Pipo for the initial build, with M-Sport taking the rebuild in-house.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Whatever happened to Zetec? Are they still around? Been a while since I heard from them

I'm not sure who you are referring to as 'they'?

The Zetec name as an engine was superseded by the Duratec from around 2002 onwards.

As a trim level on Fords, it appears on the current models:
Tourneo Courier
Tourneo Custom
Tourneo Connect
Galaxy
S-Max
Mondeo
Kuga
Ecosport

As a company - Zetec is a global leader in nondestructive testing (NDT) solutions for the critical inspection needs of industries the world counts on every day including Power Generation, Oil and Gas, Aerospace, Automotive, Maritime, Military, Rail and Manufacturing.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Whatever happened to Zetec? Are they still around? Been a while since I heard from them

Do you mean Zytek?

[S griffin]

Seeing as I mentioned Zetec, perhaps I was referring to them as being ‘they’? No need to analyse every single word of a post

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Seeing as I mentioned Zetec, perhaps I was referring to them as being ‘they’? No need to analyse every single word of a post

I'm just trying to understand what you were asking.

Who are/were the Zetec you are asking about? You used the third-person plural pronoun, which would indicate that you were referring to an organisation or entity.....

Why ask a question, if you are going to get upset when someone attempts to answer it?

[S griffin]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

Do you mean Zytek?

Easy to get those two confused both Ford connected I think. Zytek were quite big back in the day

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Easy to get those two confused both Ford connected I think. Zytek were quite big back in the day

Zytek werea big player. Initially an electronics company who supplied the engine management for the Brian Hart Turbo engines used in the Toleman F1 car. They soon developed a range of engine management systems that were used in many dace cars such as Touring cars, Sports cars and even some fast-road cars (such as TWR Jaguars).
They also moved into the mechanical side of things with Alan Smith Engines of Derby (to become Zytek Engines) with many heavy involvements.
Zytek Electronics was bought by one of the big names in Automotive Electronics, and Zytek Engines is now Gibson Technology who are still super-successful.
(Apart from supplying engine management system to teams in the past, I don't think that Zytek have ever had any direct involvement in the BTCC).

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by S griffin

Easy to get those two confused both Ford connected I think. Zytek were quite big back in the day

Zytek Automotive was sold to Continental AG in 2014 and is a manufacturer of specialist power units for EVs (including Motorsport).

Zytek Engineering was renamed Gibson Technology in 2014 and makes LMP1 and LMP2 powertrains.

I'm not aware of any connection between Zytek and Ford, or the BTCC 2020 season?

[RS67]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

The contract to build/tune engines for the Ford Motorsport WRC contract.

In 1997 Ford selected M-Sport to run their WRC campaign.
In 1998 Ford selected M-Sport to design and build the Focus RS WRC.
When the Focus RS WRC was launched, Mountune were a long way along the development path, so continued as the engine builder/tuner for the 1999 season.
Then, during 1999, M-Sport took the engine tuning contract for the Ford Motorsport away from Mountune and gave it to Cosworth.
This eventually was then given to Pipo for the initial build, with M-Sport taking the rebuild in-house.

As it was a factory team, the change of engine builder is usually down to the car manufacturer rather than the team running the cars. As far as I am aware the engine build programme went directly from Mountune to Pipo.