Designed by Robin Herd, Gordon Coppuck, and Adrian Reynard, it was powered by the traditional 3.0 L (180 cu in) Ford-Cosworth DFV V8 engine.

In 1976, 1977, and 1980 it used race cars from other manufacturers such as Brabham, March and Williams, which were purchased or rented, as a pure customer team at selected Grand Prix events.

After RAM with the racer Emilio de Villota won the Aurora Series in 1980, team manager John Macdonald decided to take part in the Formula 1 World Championship regularly from 1981.

Unlike in the Aurora series, the use of customer chassis was no longer permitted; rather, each team had to construct its own racing car.

The cars were eventually assembled at March Engines, another independent company also owned by Robin Herd.

Robin Herd, the author of the design, was followed for a few weeks by Gordon Coppuck, who was replaced by Adrian Reynard in the early summer of 1981.

The drive was a naturally aspirated Cosworth (DFV) engine, which was connected to a five-speed gearbox from Hewland (type FGA).

The brakes came from AP, the tyres initially from Michelin, and later, from the French Grand Prix onwards, from Avon.

Only the sixth chassis, which made its debut at the British Grand Prix, reached the minimum weight of 580 kg.

Derek Daly described the vehicle as a "sleeper" and named the lack of quality as the main reason to leave the team for Theodore the following season.

[9] The team debuted at the 1981 South African Grand Prix, a race that did not have World Championship status.

For political reasons, only the teams organized in the FOCA started here; Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Osella and Renault were absent.

In a field of just 18 riders, Daly finished 11th and last; Salazar retired after 18 laps due to a gearbox failure.

After two more non-qualifications, Salazar gave up his involvement with RAM and joined rival team Ensign along with his sponsor .

From the British Grand Prix Daly had access to the new Adrian Reynard revised RM06 chassis fitted with Avon tyres.

His best grid position was 17th in Great Britain; here he achieved the best result of the team this year with seventh place.

Colin Bennett Racing entered the 811 RM05 in the British Formula One Championship with Italian driver Val Musetti in the first half of 1982.

At the International Gold Cup in Oulton Park, Musetti failed due to technical reasons.

In the summer of 1982, Colin Bennett Racing left the British Formula 1 championship and instead became involved in the North American Cam-Am series.