Ray Mallock Ltd., also known as RML Group, is a motorsports and high performance engineering company, based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom.
Ray Mallock, a driver for Viscount Downe Racing, helped develop the privateer Aston Martin-powered Nimrod NRA/C2 for Group C regulations in the World Endurance Championship in 1982, 1983 and 1984.
In 2000, RML created the Saleen S7 supercar initially as a road car, and then the racing version the S7-R, winning the European Le Mans Series in the GT1 class in 2001 and the Spanish GT Championship overall in 2002.
After the design became obsolete with the onset of new LMP2 regulations, RML merged components from the EX257 into the Lola B05/40's chassis and bodyshell, creating the MG-Lola EX264, which won Le Mans in the LMP2 class in 2005 and 2006.
RML competed in the Le Mans Series in 2011 with a HPD ARX-01d LMP2 car, becoming the second team to run the ARX-01 in Europe after Strakka Racing.
Due to the team's success, RML was awarded with the works Vauxhall contract in 1994 taking over from Dave Cook Racing, winning the championship the following year.
RML won the contract to build, develop and run the works Chevrolet Lacetti in the WTCC from the 2005 season.
The car made its competition debut in the 2002 JWRC class of the Monte Carlo Rally and its first title the following year.
During this period RML were responsible for the build, development and customer support of all Opel Astra and Corsa Rally cars.
RML considered lodging an entry for the 2010 Formula One World Championship,[6] however decided against it, citing the current uncertainty over 2010 regulations as their reason for doing so.
In 2002, RML entered the British ASCAR stock car series, based on ASA-type racing, winning the 2002 and 2003 titles with Nicolas Minassian and Ben Collins.
RML's engineering skills were used in road-going cars for the first time in 1990, when the company built a small number of Ford GT40 replicas.
[7] In 2003, Nissan ordered a prototype based on the new Nissan Micra, powered initially by a 265 hp (198 kW) Touring Car race engine (with a 6-speed sequential gearbox), and later by a 309 hp (230 kW) Nismo tuned V6 engine and called Micra R. The car debuted in the Geneva Auto Show.
[8][9] In 2021, RML showcased the Short Wheelbase, essentially a modern classic inspired by the famed Ferrari 250 GT SWB.