RML to reveal plans “within next few weeks”

Reigning WTCC champions RML hope to announce their plans in the next few weeks. The British-based team have been expected to run an independent entry in the 2013 WTCC, and linked with a new manufacturer programme in 2014.

RML, which ran the Chevrolet WTCC programme from 2005 to 2012 winning the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles for the last three consecutive years, was left without a works programme after Chevrolet Europe announced their departure from the WTCC last July, but RML Chief Executive Ray Mallock, speaking to Túraautó Hírblog, said “We have been working hard to put together a replacement programme and I hope to be able to reveal some exciting news within the next two weeks.”

Mallock was reflective on the challenges of putting together a WTCC programme in the current environment, saying that: “The combination of the global economic situation and a change in WTCC regulations for 2014 make it especially difficult at the moment.”

“However we know that WTCC can be an incredibly cost effective marketing platform for a manufacturer and/or sponsor and the new regulations for 2014 are causing additional interest.”

Mallock also indicated that any drivers the team would run this season would have to bring their own budget to race or at least support their programme. “Without manufacturer backing it is impossible to field a top line team without drivers helping to bring sponsorship,” he said.

Túraautó Hírblog also drew Mallock on the rumours of RML working with Renault for a potential works entry in 2014, as first reported on TouringCarTimes in November last year, but Mallock remained silent on the matter, saying: “There are always lots of rumours and we talk to many manufacturers about a variety of projects but these discussions are always confidential until contracts are agreed.”

RML’s technical team nevertheless remain busy over the winter supporting a number of independent teams in the British Touring Car Championship. Despite the absence of any Chevrolet/RML built cars on the grid in 2012, two teams plan to enter Chevrolet Cruzes built by RML to the BTCC’s latest Next Generation Touring Car regulations this season; the first being Chris Stockton’s BTC Racing squad, using the abandoned hatchback car which was started in 2011, the other is Andy Neate’s new IP Tech Race Engineering team, which will field all-new cars based on the saloon model. RML are also building the shells of two Volkswagen CCs for Tony Gilham Racing.