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Ron Tauranac sold his interest in Brabham to Bernie Eccleston and formed his own company named RALT with the intent of producing single-seater racing cars. The name 'RALT' was created after Ron and Austin Lewis Tauranac. Austin Lewis is the brother of Ron.
In 1975, Ralt began competing in Formula Atlantic competition with their RT-1. The car was also used in Formula Two and Formula Three competition between 1975 and 1978. The RT1 competed in Formula Atlantic competition for many years, amassing 15 Championships. The only other marque to come close to that record is Swift who has won 8 Championships.
In 1979, Tom Glory drove an RT1 to its first Formula Atlantic Championship.
Ralt RT1 Formula Atlantic cars were powered by 1600 cc Cosworth BDD engines with twin Weber 48 DC02 carburetors. The regulations of the series dictated most components of the cars and as such, specifications vary slightly. The Hewland FT200 gearbox was the typical gearbox found in Formula Atlantic cars. Formula 2 cars often used the stronger Hewland FT400 unit.
In 1979 the team created the RT2 which was designed for Formula Two competition. Three cars were constructed for the Toleman team; later, three more were constructed for privateers. One of the RT2 cars created was designed for CanAm competition.
The RT3 was a derivative of the RT2 and created for Formula 3 competition. The RT4 was based on the RT2 and competed mostly in Formula Atlantic competition. The RT5 was a Formula super Vee car similar in design to the RT3 and derived from the RT2. By this point in history, there were many Super Vee builders such as Royale, Anson, Lola, and Zink - to name but a few. The field of builders soon dwindled when RALT introduced their RT-5 in 1980. The series would continue until 1990, but every year except 1986 was won by a RALT RT-5. 1986 was won by Didier Theys in a Martini.
The RT-5 RALT had an aluminum monocoque chassis, fiberglass bodywork, a wheelbase that measured 99.5 inches, and weighed 1075 lbs. The cars were fitted with full ground effects with air foils. The engine displaced 1588cc and produced 180 horsepower. Mated to the engine was a Hewland 5-speed sequential gearbox. The cars were very modern and incorporated electronic control systems.
Production of the RT-5 continued until 1988; during that year only three examples were made. Those three were given a unique front suspension that had the springs and shocks positioned above the driver's knees. The system was very effective and many earlier RT-5 models were updated to this specification.
RALT cars continued to be constructed for Formula series, including Formula 3000 and Formula 3, until the 1990s. Tauranac sold the company to March.
In 1975, Ralt began competing in Formula Atlantic competition with their RT-1. The car was also used in Formula Two and Formula Three competition between 1975 and 1978. The RT1 competed in Formula Atlantic competition for many years, amassing 15 Championships. The only other marque to come close to that record is Swift who has won 8 Championships.
In 1979, Tom Glory drove an RT1 to its first Formula Atlantic Championship.
Ralt RT1 Formula Atlantic cars were powered by 1600 cc Cosworth BDD engines with twin Weber 48 DC02 carburetors. The regulations of the series dictated most components of the cars and as such, specifications vary slightly. The Hewland FT200 gearbox was the typical gearbox found in Formula Atlantic cars. Formula 2 cars often used the stronger Hewland FT400 unit.
In 1979 the team created the RT2 which was designed for Formula Two competition. Three cars were constructed for the Toleman team; later, three more were constructed for privateers. One of the RT2 cars created was designed for CanAm competition.
The RT3 was a derivative of the RT2 and created for Formula 3 competition. The RT4 was based on the RT2 and competed mostly in Formula Atlantic competition. The RT5 was a Formula super Vee car similar in design to the RT3 and derived from the RT2. By this point in history, there were many Super Vee builders such as Royale, Anson, Lola, and Zink - to name but a few. The field of builders soon dwindled when RALT introduced their RT-5 in 1980. The series would continue until 1990, but every year except 1986 was won by a RALT RT-5. 1986 was won by Didier Theys in a Martini.
The RT-5 RALT had an aluminum monocoque chassis, fiberglass bodywork, a wheelbase that measured 99.5 inches, and weighed 1075 lbs. The cars were fitted with full ground effects with air foils. The engine displaced 1588cc and produced 180 horsepower. Mated to the engine was a Hewland 5-speed sequential gearbox. The cars were very modern and incorporated electronic control systems.
Production of the RT-5 continued until 1988; during that year only three examples were made. Those three were given a unique front suspension that had the springs and shocks positioned above the driver's knees. The system was very effective and many earlier RT-5 models were updated to this specification.
RALT cars continued to be constructed for Formula series, including Formula 3000 and Formula 3, until the 1990s. Tauranac sold the company to March.
| Sports 2000Sport 2000, also referred to as S2 or S2000, is a two-seat, rear-engined, full-bodied, open-cockpit sports-prototype racing series. A list of rules and regulations maintains that the racers are very similar in design and capabilities. It is mainly intended as an amateur racing series. The S2 series was created by John Webb in similar fashion to the Formula Ford 2000 racing series. The design of the bodies were inspired by the two-liter Group 6 sports racing cars such as the Chevron B21 and Lola T212. Mounted mid-ship was a two-liter overhead camshaft Ford 'Pinto' engine. Only minor modifications to the engine were allowed. Rules stated that a Volkswagen based Hewland MK9 transaxle was to be used. In Europe, the series prospered for a number of years until the late 1980s. At that time the Clubmans racing series modified their front-engined rules to allow rear-engine placement. In the United States it was a sanctioned racing class by the SCCA. Manufacturers who created chassis for the Sport 2000 series include Royale, Swift, Tiga, Van Diemen, Lola, March, Crossle, Chevron, and Carbir. |
1985 Ralt RT5 |
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| Year | 1985 |
| Make | Ralt |
| Model | RT5 |
| Engine Location | Rear |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Body / Chassis | Aluminum monocoque chassis and Fiberglass body |
| Production Years for Series | 1980 - 1988 |
| Weight | 1045 lbs | 474 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Water-Cooled | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 1588.00 cc | 96.9 cu in. | 1.6 L. |
| Horsepower | 180.00 HP (132.5 KW) |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 5.8 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 112.5 BHP / Liter |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 5 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Hewland MK9 | |
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| View Specifications |
| Articles and Event Coverage |
| Mid-Ohio Vintage Grand Prix |
| Additional Resources and Links |
| Vintage Grand Prix of Mid-Ohio Official Website |
| Vehicle Spotlight | ||
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