Photo: PSP Images/WTCC Media

RML have high expectations after winning BTCC tender

RML Group, the Wellingborough-based touring car “power house” return in a key capacity to the British Touring Car Championship from 2016, replacing GPRM Ltd. as the specified chassis and suspension builder for all of the cars in the championship,, and says that this is a key part in the former Chevrolet manufacturer squad’s future strategy.

Under the BTCC’s current technical framework, previously referred to as Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC), the majority of components are all uniform across competitors, designed to reduce the build costs compared to the previously used Super 2000 cars.

Xtrac provide the 6-speed sequential gearboxes, AP Racing the clutches, while the suspension components, roll cage and sub-frames have previously been constructed by GPRM, but it was confirmed last week that RML were successful in winning the tender to take over the contract from 2016.

Looking at how this fits in with RML’s strategy, with the team also building the World Touring Car Championship’s only bespoke privateer chassis with the Chevrolet RML Cruze TC1, commercial director Simon Holloway spoke to TouringCarTimes.

TcT: RML has been absent from the BTCC in an active capacity for almost five years now – how does it feel to be back?

“It’s fantastic for RML to be actively involved with the BTCC once again. Touring cars are the life and soul of RML, and along with our WTCC customer programme, this further strengthens RML’s ability to provide world class engineering and supply services, whilst building on our strong championship winning heritage.”

TcT: What do you expect the take up of new-build chassis will be in the first year?

“We expect there to be a good take up of the new parts for year one. Several teams have already ordered components to ensure delivery of the first batch of parts. We will be testing components later in the year and would expect additional uptake once the parts have been run.”

TcT: How does the BTCC programme fit in with RML’s strategy? It seems that RML is becoming more of a technical operation than one that runs racing programmes of its own as of late?

“The BTCC contract fits very well within our strategy. It’s a long term contract providing stability and a steady level of business, being over a six year period it provides good planning capability and improved supply chain opportunities, allowing us to operate in an efficient and cost effective manner.

“With regards to running racing programmes, many of our staff are actively working in paddocks around the world with partners as customers, racing is still in our DNA and don’t be surprised to see us competing again in the future.”

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TcT: Teams have expressed concerns, albeit privately, about the build quality of some of the NGTC parts they have been obliged to use since the rule set was introduced. Is this something you’re conscious of, and if so, have plans to address?

“I cannot comment on the quality of the existing components as we have not looked at the design or carried out finite element analysis on those components. Due to the requirements laid out in the tender document and the input from the Technical Working Group, we have redesigned all the components to meet those requirements. Obviously all new components will have to pass our quality and test procedures before being released to customers.”

TcT: If the circumstances were right for you to return to the BTCC in a racing capacity, would this supply contract make that difficult, or would you still have the freedom to enter as a race team?

“As a technical supplier to the BTCC there are some limitations in our ability to enter a team in the BTCC, however we have the capability to engineer, design and build and support complete cars or chassis for any manufacturer or individual, and are actively progressing opportunities in these areas. Chassis designed here at RML have led races this year within the BTCC, so we have a proven capability in this area.”

TcT: Presumably this contract has had a very positive effect on the company’s medium-term prospects? Will it enable you to expand and take on more staff, or are you already set up to deal with this increased workload alongside your WTCC commitments?

“This contract is one of several currently ongoing at RML. We have been working on the design for several months already to enable us to supply and test the parts in the timescale required. We had to start at our own risk to ensure this.

“It’s no secret that we are in the process of recruiting more staff at the moment for a number of projects, and have several open vacancies which we hope to fill in the near future. We already operate a supply and support operation for our WTCC customers and the BTCC contract will be an extension of this operation.”

03 CHILTON Tom (gbr) Chevrolet Cruze team Roal motorsport action during the 2015 FIA WTCC World Touring Car Championship race of Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France from June 26th to 28th 2015. Photo Antonin GRENIER / DPPI.