The Ralt RT1 is a race car chassis produced by Ralt, and was the first modern car produced by the company. It saw widespread use in a number of different motorsports categories, mostly open-wheel racing, but later including sports car racing. It was powered by a number of different four-cylinder engines of about 1.6 L (98 cu in) in displacement, of different origin, including Hart, Cosworth, Toyota, and Volkswagen engines. [1] [2]
The RT1 used a monocoque chassis, covered in a fiberglass body. This meant it was very light, weighing only 1,100 lb (500 kg). It was powered by a 1.6 L (98 cu in) four-cylinder engine, generating 230 hp (170 kW), which droves the rear wheels via a Hewland F.T.200 5-speed manual [3]
The first chassis produced by Ralt was the RT1, a simple and versatile car used in Formula 2, Formula 3, and Formula Atlantic between 1975 and 1978. In 1975, it won its first success: the Formula 3 European Cup, at the hands of Australian racing driver Larry Perkins. [4]
In 1976, it won in Formula 2 at the hands of the German-Swedish driver Freddy Kottulinsky at the Nurburgring. She also won the German Formula 3 championship at the hands of Bertram Schäfer. [5]
In 1977, it won, with Elio De Angelis, the Italian Formula 3 championship and that of Sweden.
In 1978, it won, with Derek Warwick and Nelson Piquet, the two British Formula 3 championships as well as, with Bertram Schäfer, the German, Swedish and European championships in the discipline.
Other championships were won by Ralt drivers in 1979 and 1980, in Formula 3, Formula Atlantic, and Formula Super Vee. In Formula Atlantic, the RT1 managed to amass 15 different championships. [6] [7]
It was later converted into an enclosed-wheel sports prototype-style car with bodywork, and used in the revived Can-Am series, where it only managed 1 win, at Mid-Ohio in 1979, and achieved 4 class wins and 2 podium finishes in the series. [8] [9]
Formula Three, also called Formula 3, abbreviated as F3, is a third-tier class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers.
Formula Vee or Formula Volkswagen is a popular open wheel, single-seater junior motor racing formula, with relatively low costs in comparison to Formula Ford.
Formula Junior is an open wheel formula racing class first adopted in October 1958 by the CSI. The class was intended to provide an entry level class where drivers could use inexpensive mechanical components from ordinary automobiles. The idea to form the new class came from Count Giovanni "Johnny" Lurani who saw the need of a class for single-seater racing cars where younger drivers could take their first steps. It is often speculated that this class was founded as a reaction to Italy's lack of success in the 500cc Formula Three, and although Italian marques dominated the first year of the formula, they were soon overtaken by British constructors.
Formula racing is any of several forms of open-wheeled single-seater motorsport. The origin of the term lies in the nomenclature that was adopted by the FIA for all of its post-World War II single-seater regulations, or formulae. The best known of these formulae are Formula One, Formula E, Formula Two, Formula Three, regional Formula Three and Formula Four. Common usage of "formula racing" encompasses other single-seater series, including the GP2 Series, which replaced Formula 3000.
Formula Holden was an Australian open wheel racing category introduced in 1989.
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Ronald Sidney Tauranac was a British-Australian engineer and racing car designer, who with Formula One driver Jack Brabham founded the Brabham constructor and racing team in 1962. Following Brabham's retirement as a driver at the end of the 1970 season, Tauranac owned and managed the Brabham team until 1972, when he sold it to Bernie Ecclestone. He remained in England to assist with a redesign of a Politoys Formula One chassis for Frank Williams in 1973 and helped Trojan develop a Formula One version of their Formula 5000 car.
The Formula 3 Euro Series was a European-based junior single seater formula for Formula Three chassis that was launched in 2003 as a merger of the French Formula Three Championship and German Formula Three Championship. The Formula Three category, including this championship, is part of the established career ladder up which European drivers progress to the Formula One world championship, the highest form of single seater racing defined by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), motorsport's world governing body.
Ralt was a manufacturer of single-seater racing cars, founded by ex-Jack Brabham associate Ron Tauranac after he sold out his interest in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. Ron and his brother had built some specials in Australia in the 1950s under the Ralt name. Tauranac won the 1954 NSW Hillclimb Championship in the Ralt 500.
Formula Super Vee was an open-wheel racing series that took place in Europe and the United States from 1970 to 1990. The formula was created as an extension of Formula Vee, a racing class that was introduced in 1959. Formula Super Vee in Europe was similar to F3 or Formula Renault today, a stepping stone to F1. In the United States, Formula Super Vee, often referred to as Super Vee, was a natural progression to Indy Car and Can-Am. On both sides of the Atlantic the series also was a platform for the promotion of VW products, similar to how Formula Renault promotes Renault products today.
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Royale Race Cars was a British constructor of race cars in the 20th century. The company produced single seaters as well as sports cars.
The SCCA Formula Super Vee was one of the longest running Formula Super Vee championships in the world. Twenty racing season were contested. Most of the races were sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America in some occasions the races were sanctioned by the International Motor Sports Association.
Scott Liebler was a racing driver from Manhattan, Kansas. To date Liebler is one of two racing deaths during the SCCA National Championship Runoffs, along with Jim Ladd.
Ken Duclos is a Americas former racing driver. Duclos competed in the Trans-Am Series, Atlantic Championship among other series.
The Ralt RT33 was a Formula 3 racing car that was developed and built by Ralt in 1989 and was used in various Formula 3 championships. A total of 37 chassis' were made.
The Swift DB4 is an open-wheel formula racing car chassis, designed, developed and built by American Company Swift Engineering, for the Formula Atlantic spec-series, between 1987 and 1997. It won the championship five times, with four championships won four consecutive years in a row. It was powered by naturally aspirated 1.6 L (98 cu in) Toyota 4A-GE four-cylinder engine, producing about 240 hp (180 kW), which drove the rear wheels through a standard 5-speed manual transmission.
The Ralt RT5 is an open-wheel formula race car, developed and built by Ralt in 1982, for the Formula Super Vee racing series, in 1980.