Ralt
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motorsport, Racing car manufacturing |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Founder | Ron Tauranac |
| Fate | Sold to March Group in 1988 |
Key people | Ron Tauranac (founder) |
| Products | Single-seat racing cars (Formula Two, Formula Three, Formula Atlantic, Formula 3000) |
Ralt was a producer of single-seat racing cars, established by former Jack Brabham collaborator Ron Tauranac after he sold his stake in Brabham to Bernie Ecclestone. During the 1950s in Australia, Ron and his brother Austin constructed custom vehicles under the Ralt brand name, derived from their initials (Ron and Austin Lewis Tauranac). Tauranac achieved victory in the 1954 NSW Hillclimb Championship driving a Ralt 500.
Early Ralts
Created with Austin’s help in Australia, the Mk1 model utilized a 1,932cc pushrod Norton ES2 engine, with Tauranac personally manufacturing components such as the flywheel, connecting rods, and cylinders. The Mk2, designed by Austin, was a sports car equipped with a Ford 10 engine, a Standard 10 transmission, and a rear axle from a Morris 8. The Mk3 was purchased from the Hooper brothers and featured a new chassis designed by Tauranac, with Austin as the main driver. The Mk4 started as a special project powered by a Vincent-HRD V-twin engine and fitted with de Dion rear suspension; it was developed over two years. Following two initial events, demand led to plans for a small production series of five units. The Mk5, which Austin intended to power with a Peugeot engine, was ultimately shelved so he could support Tauranac in producing the Mk4.
Modern Ralts
Ralt was officially founded by Tauranac in 1974; its inaugural model was the RT1, a highly adaptable car that competed across Formula Two, Formula Three, and Formula Atlantic categories between 1975 and 1978.
The RT2 emerged in 1979 specifically for Formula Two competition. Six units were constructed: three for the Toleman team and three sold privately, including one used in the revived Can-Am series. Toleman later developed its own TG280 based on the RT2 chassis; this design was licensed to Lola as the T850 and further modified into the DS1 by Docking-Spitzley. Two original Toleman RT2s competed in Can-Am races; the third went to South Africa where it inspired locally produced replicas called Lants. Variants related to these models also appeared in UK hillclimb and sprint competitions under names such as Romans and SPAs.
The RT2 served as the foundation for three additional models: the RT3 tailored for Formula Three, the RT4 designed for Formula Atlantic (which occasionally raced in Formula Two), and the RT5 created for Formula Super Vee events.
In the early to mid-1980s, the RT4 dominated Australian Formula 1 and Formula Mondial racing. Notably, Roberto Moreno claimed victories at the Australian Grand Prix in 1981, 1983, and 1984 driving an RT4 prior to its inclusion as a Formula One World Championship event in 1985. Other Formula One drivers who competed in RT4s during this era included Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite, Andrea de Cesaris, along with World Champions such as Alan Jones, Nelson Piquet, Keke Rosberg, and Niki Lauda. Typically powered by a 1.6 litre four-cylinder Ford BDA engine generating approximately , the RT4 also secured Australian Drivers' Championships for John Bowe (1984, 1985) and importer Graham Watson (1986).
Works F2 cars
In 1980, Honda commissioned John Judd’s firm, Engine Developments, to produce a Formula Two engine for Ralt’s factory team. Tauranac had previous connections with Honda dating back to Brabham’s introduction of Honda engines to F2 during the 1960s; additionally, Jack Brabham co-founded Engine Developments alongside Judd. Between 1980 and 1984, Ralt’s factory F2 cars were designated RH6 models: the RH6/80 and RH6/81 evolved from the RT2 chassis, whereas the RH6/82, RH6/83, and RH6/84 featured an advanced honeycomb monocoque tub. These vehicles amassed twenty championship victories and secured European Formula Two titles in 1981, 1983, and 1984 with drivers Geoff Lees, Jonathan Palmer, and Mike Thackwell respectively.
Formula 3000 vehicles
In 1985, Formula Two was succeeded by Formula 3000. Ralt's initial F3000 model, the RB20, was an evolution of the RH6/84 and equipped with a Cosworth DFV engine; the 'B' signified Bridgestone, which was both Ralt's tyre supplier and principal sponsor. During the inaugural International F3000 Championship, the RB20 secured four victories with drivers Thackwell and John Nielsen.
For the 1986 season, Ralt launched the RT20, a cost-effective vehicle featuring an aluminium chassis designed for simplified upkeep. Honda returned as the engine provider for the factory team, while customer teams continued to use Cosworth power units. The factory squad achieved one win through Thackwell, whereas customer entries managed by Italy’s Pavesi Racing, including Pierluigi Martini and Luis Pérez-Sala, amassed four victories. The RT21 succeeded in 1987, incorporating honeycomb monocoque construction; Honda remained the engine supplier, with Roberto Moreno and Maurício Gugelmin each claiming a race win.
In 1988, marking Ralt’s final year as an independent F3000 chassis manufacturer, the RT22 was introduced as its first carbon-fibre chassis in this category. Despite this advancement, strong competition from Lola and newcomer Reynard curtailed its achievements. Later that year, Tauranac sold Ralt to the March Group.
Under March Group ownership, the Ralt brand returned to F3000 in 1991 with the RT23. Jean-Marc Gounon won at Pau driving an RT23 fielded by Mike Earle's 3001 International team; however, overall performance remained underwhelming. The RT24, constructed by Nick Wirth's Simtek for the 1992 season, represented Ralt’s final F3000 entry before exiting the series.
Previously used Ralt F3000 chassis found prolonged application in Australia's Formula Holden championship from 1989 onward, fitted with the series’ 3.8-litre Holden V6 powerplant. In this context, Rohan Onslow won the 1989 Australian Drivers' Championship driving an RT20, followed by Simon Kane securing the title in an RT21 in 1990.
Formula Three vehicles
The RT3 debuted in 1979 featuring ground effect aerodynamics and underwent yearly refinements through to 1984, ultimately becoming the leading Formula Three car of its era. Ayrton Senna captured the 1983 British Formula Three Championship piloting an RT3. Introduced in 1985 to meet flat-bottom regulations, the RT30 displayed a unique asymmetric layout with a radiator housed in one sidepod and a deformable panel on the opposite side. Over several seasons of development, the RT30 matured into a highly competitive contender by 1986; some teams also adapted older models to comply with flat-bottom rules to maintain competitiveness.
The RT31 (1987) integrated honeycomb elements derived from the RT21 F3000 chassis and experimented with revised engine placement to enhance performance. In 1988, the RT32 adopted a honeycomb/carbon fibre tub design that served as a foundation for future models during Tauranac's leadership, including the RT33 (1989) and RT35 (1991). The 1992 RT36, designed by Andy Thorby and updated as the RT37 in 1993, achieved limited success amid many teams transitioning to Dallara chassis. Nevertheless, its monocoque design remains favored in hillclimb competitions nearly fifteen years later. The Ralt 94C, crafted by Chris Radage, did not attain commercial viability.
Later Formula Atlantic Versions
The RT40 and RT41 represented Formula Atlantic adaptations derived from subsequent Formula Three designs, with the RT40 marking Tauranac's concluding Ralt creation. These vehicles functioned as developmental platforms for numerous drivers who later competed in Champ Car and the Indy Racing League, including Jacques Villeneuve, who achieved victories at the 1995 Indy 500 and secured the 1997 F1 World Championship title. While the Swift 008a replaced these models in Pro Atlantic competitions by 1998, RT40s and RT41s continued to demonstrate competitiveness in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) events well into the following decade—Rennie Clayton notably clinched the SCCA Championship driving an RT-41 as late as 2003.
Initially equipped with a tuned Toyota 4A-GE 1.6L twin-cam engine delivering around 250 bhp tailored for Pro Atlantic racing, several chassis underwent conversions to compete in SCCA C Sports Racer (CSR) and Prototype 1 (P1) categories. These adaptations incorporated alternative power units such as Mazda’s twin-rotor 13B, Honda engines, and Cosworth 1600 variants.
Ralt under Different Ownership
Ralt’s 1988 Formula 3000 car encountered significant development obstacles; with Tauranac overseeing paying drivers for the first time, sponsors often encouraged these drivers to depart without settling fees. The company also experienced a loss of its American market share for RT4 models due to Swift’s increasing dominance, alongside diminished demand for RT5s amid SuperVee’s decline in the United States. Additionally, Reynard’s assertive marketing strategies further chipped away at Ralt’s presence in both F3000 and F3 arenas. Seeking a strategic exit, Tauranac sold the business to March for slightly more than one million pounds. While Ralt specialized in high-end custom racing vehicles, it had overlooked broader customer car production, making the merger a calculated decision.
During its tenure within March, Ralt operated primarily as the customer car division for several years until March divested its motorsport operations. In 1993, enthusiasts Andrew Fitton and Steve Ward purchased Ralt; Tauranac departed shortly thereafter. Although Fitton and Ward dissolved March, Ward continued managing Ralt independently. The Ralt brand endures today, with occasional appearances of Ralt F3 cars still seen.
Tauranac’s Activities Following Ralt
Post-Ralt, Tauranac remained engaged in motorsport ventures by contributing to racing school vehicles for Honda, designing a Formula Renault chassis, providing consultancy services to the Arrows Formula One team, and maintaining longstanding connections with Honda dating back to their collaboration supplying engines to Brabham during the 1960s. Meanwhile, Ralt Australia was overseen by New Zealander Graham Watson until his passing in 2009.