Monoposto

Manfred Schurti won the European Super Vee Championship in 1972 while driving a Royale RP-9. During the 1972 season, both Royales and Schurti would win many Super Vee races. Having proved his abilities behind the wheel of a Royale, a group of businessmen from Liechtenstein agreed to finance a Formula 2 car for him. Bob King, or Royale, had no Formula 2 experience but was willing to construct a car to conform to F2 requirements.

Dave Beacon was hired to design the car while King worked on the RP-20 for the 1973 season. Work progressed slowly and money ran out before the car was completed. King decided to put a 2-liter engine in an RP-11 and dubbed it the RP-15. Schurti used the car as an interim solution until the RP-20 could be completed.

The RP-20 made its racing debut after the summer season, on September 9th. Schurti used it during practice but not during the race.

The RP-20 was later driven by Tom Pryce and later tested by Tony Trimmer. Trimmer decided the car could not be competitive and the project was abandoned. Years later, it was determined that the Achilles' heel may have been slow-speed under-steer due to the sway bar contacting the steering tie rode while cornering.

The RP-20 remained in the Royale shop until being discovered by Ron Swartz. Swartz was the Northeast U.S. distributor for Royale cars. He purchased the RP-20 from Royale as a rolling chassis and brought it back to the United States. He used it in Formula Atlantic and SCCA Formula B, also with a BD engine. Ron would be the car's caretaker for about 16 - 18 years. He held lap records at both Lime Rock and Bryar in the RP-20.

The car was built to Formula 2 spec with a BDA engine.

By this point in history, King was fed up with the racing car business. He sold his interest in Royale to Alan Cornock, his former parts manager, and left the company. At the time, Royale was the second largest producer of racing cars in Britain, after Lola.

The RP-20 was the winner - starting from the back of the grid - at the inaugural Legends of Motorsports Formula Libre race vs. Indy, F-5000, F2, FB, and FAtl in 2010.

Currently, the car is eligible for Formula 2, Formula Atlantic, and Formula B. It is currently fitted with an F2 spec 2-liter BDG Cosworth engine and an F2 spec FT-200 gearbox.

Source: vehicle owner and marchives.com

by Dan Vaughan