RML Group
Ray Mallock Ltd.. , Also known as RML Group, is a British motorsport team. In 2009, RML worked under his own name in the Le Mans Series and in the British Touring Car Championship as well as Chevrolet factory team in the World Touring Car Championship.
History
Ray Mallock began with his brother Richard as an assistant to his father, Major Arthur with the construction of racing cars. They used several Mallock U2 - chassis for Clubsport racing. After racing in Formula 3 and sports car racing Mallock founded in 1979 his own team, Ray Mallock Atlantic Racing, which he renamed in 1984 to RML.
Sport car
Ray Mallock was involved as a driver in the development of the Nimrod NRA/C2 for Group C, which in 1983 and 1984 competed in the World Sportscar Championship. This car was powered by an Aston Martin engine. In 1985, RML was commissioned to build the Ecurie Ecosse - prototypes for the C2 class, which in 1986 won the title in its class.
In 1987, RML proceeded with the development of Aston Martin AMR1 back in class C1. The project was completed in 1990, but Mallock found with the Nissan team for a new partner.
The World Sportscar Championship ended after 1992 due to the enormous cost explosion. In 2000, RML developed from the supercar Saleen S7 a race car, the S7 -R. This won RML 2001, the GTS class of the European Le Mans Series and 2002 the Spanish GT Championship. In 2004, RML entered two cars in the FIA GT Championship, but scored only midfield positions.
Also in 2004, put an RML MG Lola EX257 - one at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the Le Mans Endurance Series. After the introduction of the new LMP2 rules was developed based on a Lola B05/40 of the MG Lola EX264 with components of the EX257. The piloted by Thomas Erdos and Mike Newton car won in 2005 and 2006 in Le Mans LMP2 class. In addition, Erdos and Newton secured on the EX264 the LMP2 championship title of the Le Mans Series 2007 season.
For the 2008 Le Mans Series season RML continued to develop the car and now used with the MG Xp21 an advanced engine. The car was designated the EX265. This car was finally converted before the season finale to a coupe and now largely corresponded to the Lola B08/80. With the EX265 components, including the MG Xp21 engine, the new car was now called EX265C and made its debut at the 1000 km race at Silverstone in 2008. After the end of the season, the team separated from the motor supplier MG and joined the Japanese manufacturer Mazda. Mike Newton stated that primarily led the lack of support from MG to the separation.
The choice of the unit turned out to be ultimately wrong decision. In the five championship races of the 2009 season the car finished only two races without engine damage. RML therefore closed for the 2010 season from a contract with the manufacturer Honda, which had the engine under the name Acura so far mainly used in the Acura ARX -01. Mike Newton and Thomas Erdos again achieved the championship victory in the LMP2 category.
Touring car
Through its relationship with Ecurie Ecosse gave RML 1992 his debut in the British Touring Car Championship in touring car racing. The team used two factory-supported Vauxhall Cavalier 1995 and could celebrate the championship victory. Furthermore, it was built by RML Nissan Sentra for the South African Touring Car Championship.
In collaboration with Nissan RML built in 1997 on the Nissan Primera for the BTCC. The team won the 1999 with Laurent Aiello drivers' title in 1998 and 1999 as well as the brand title. In 2004, acquired Seat Sport UK Seat Toledo Cupra two that were prepared by RML for use in the BTCC. At the end of the cooperation was terminated, as the team from Chevrolet won the contract to develop the Lacetti for the World Touring Car Championship. RML shows continue to be responsible for the business use of the Chevrolet in the WTCC. 2009 was presented with the new Chevrolet Cruze the successor of the Lacetti.
The former WTCC Lacetti have been used successfully in 2009 by RML again in the British Touring Car Championship. As the driver started Jason Plato, from the second race Mat Jackson and James Nash from the fourth race. Jason Plato was runner-up. 2010 come in two BTCC Cruze used that were used in the previous in the WTCC, the third participates in the Swedish Touring Car Championship.
Rally
At the end of 1997, GM Europe decided to scale back its involvement in touring car racing. RML began with the development of the Opel Astra Kit Car according to Formula 2 regulations for the World Rally Championship and several national rally championships in Europe. In 1999, the RML Astra won titles in Germany, Norway and Sweden.
Late 2000 RML developed the Opel Corsa for the new Super 1600 class, which replaced the F2 kit cars. This car made its debut in 2002 in the World Rally Junior World Championship at the Monte Carlo Rally and won the following year for his first title.
Formula 1
RML had entered Formula 1 planned for 2010, but decided on the basis of uncertainty about the rules against it. A future use, however, is not excluded.
Automobile
RML turned first time in 1990 the development of production vehicles to and built a small series of Ford GT40 replicas. In 1994, RML has created several concept drawings for an undisclosed Japanese manufacturer.
In 1999, RML presented two different projects, on the one hand an Opel Astra DTM concept, and second, the Saleen S7, which was fully developed by RML engineer and former F1 mechanic Richard Owen.
In 2003, Nissan RML was to develop a prototype based on the Nissan Micra, Micra R. The car Geneva Motor Show was presented, was with a 265 hp ( 198 kW) V6 engine sequential 6 -speed gearbox equipped.