RML Group is a British total engineering solutions company based in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. Founded in the 1984 by Ray Mallock as a motorsport team, the group has since expanded to provide advanced engineering services to OEMs and other companies in the automotive sector, as well as those in defence, aerospace, and marine.
The company has a prestigious heritage in motorsports and high-performance vehicles, and as of 2025 saw significant investment in RML Group, including the installation of a new senior management team with CEO Paul Dickinson joining the board. Operations are spread across four divisions – Power, Engineering, Motorsport and Bespoke. Powertrain and engineering expertise have seen RML Group work with the likes of Aston Martin, McLaren Automotive, Bentley, NIO, Lotus Cars, Nissan and MG Motor on special projects, while experience with electrification in motorsport has seen the development of the VarEVolt scalable platform allows RML Group to provide bespoke, high-performance batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.
RML supports manufacturers with factory motorsport projects and race teams across a range of formulae, including touring cars and GT racing. At a series level, the group has a contract as Official Parts Supplier to the British Touring Car Championship, providing specified NGCT-specification chassis, suspension and steering components to all teams in the competition.
Group divisions
Power
RML's Power division is responsible for design, development and manufacturing across powertrain projects, including advanced battery systems and bespoke engine builds. Facilities include R&D, laser welding and end-of-line testing capabilities, delivering projects for teams in motorsport and OEMs in the automotive sector, as well as off-highway industries.
Engineering
The Engineering division within RML develops advanced engineering projects across automotive, aerospace, defence, marine and motorsport industries. The team works on systems such as chassis and vehicle dynamics development, aerodynamics, powertrain integration, and cockpit systems with past projects including vehicles such as the Nio EP9 and McLaren Senna GTR.
Motorsport
RML Group was established as a motorsport team, and more than 40 years later, motor racing remains a key focus. From designing championship-winning cars to running world class racing teams, RML Group holds multiple world and national championships, and supports a variety of racing series as parts supplier and car builder.
Bespoke
Early history
Ray Mallock began building racing cars, alongside his brother Richard, as an assistant to his father, Major Arthur Mallock, who created the Mallock U2 chassis for Clubmans racing. After racing in Formula 3, Formula Atlantic and sports car racing, Mallock founded his team, Ray Mallock Atlantic Racing, in 1979, which he renamed RML in 1984.
Sports car racing
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 1984, RML was contracted to build the Ecurie Ecosse prototypes for the C2 class, winning the class title in 1986.
In 1987, RML returned to the main class by developing the Aston Martin AMR-1. The project was closed in 1990, but RML found work with the works Nissan team instead. RML developed and prepared NPTI's Nissan R90CK programme for Le Mans. One of the cars manages to lead the race for five hours and set a new lap record.
In 1999, RML returned sportscars by producing the RML Mallock P20 Supersports Car, in association with Mallock Sports his brother Richard's company. The car won the National Supersports championships in 1999 and in 2000, when it was driven by Michael Mallock.
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. In 2004 RML entered the FIA GT Championship with two cars.
Also in 2004, RML ran an MG-Lola EX257 in the
Touring car racing
British Touring Car Championship
Vauxhall (1992–1996)
Taking advantage of its relationship to Ecurie Ecosse, RML made its debut in touring car racing in 1992, by moving to the British Touring Car Championship. The team ran two semi-works Vauxhall Cavaliers for Ecurie Ecosse for two years.
RML built its first ground up Super touring car the Vauxhall Cavalier RML P7 in 1993, it took RML's maiden BTCC victory with David Leslie at the wheel at Thruxton.
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. The RML Vauxhall Cavalier RML P11 won the 1995 in both the teams and Drivers standings. Vauxhall launched the new Vectra RML P12 for 1996. The season was a transitional year with the team scoring just one victory with James Thompson.
Nissan (1997–1999)
Rallying
At the end of 1997, Opel decided to cut down its involvement in touring cars, and contracted RML to the develop the Opel Astra Kit-car for the Formula 2 regulations for them in the World Rally Championship and several national rallying championships in Europe. In 1999, the RML Astra won titles in Germany, Norway and Sweden.
In late 2000 Opel assigned RML to design and build the Opel Corsa for the new Super 1600 category, which replaced the F2 kit-cars. 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.
Formula One
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. They were to use Cosworth engines had they submitted an entry. RML have also said they are still considering an entry into Formula One in the future.
Other series
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. Also in 2002, RML prepared Darren Manning's Team St. George car for the British Champ Car race at the Rockingham race track.
Road cars
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. In 1994, RML created several concept sketches for an undisclosed Japanese manufacturer.
In 1999, RML returned with two different projects, the Opel Astra Concept DTM, a road-going prototype based on the Opel Astra Coupé the German company would debut the following year, and the ground up design of the Saleen S7.[7]
In 2003, Nissan ordered a prototype based on the new Nissan Micra, powered initially by a 265 hp Touring Car race engine (with a 6-speed sequential gearbox), and later by a 309 hp Nismo tuned V6 engine and called Micra R. The car debuted in the Geneva Auto Show.
In 2011, RML showcased the Nissan Juke-R with Nissan announcing a limited production run of 'the worlds fastest crossover' in 2012.
In 2014, RML developed and built the Q50 Eau Rouge concept on behalf of Infiniti Motor Co.
RML Group produced a road-legal converted version of the Aston Martin Vulcan some time before 2018.
External links
References
- RML moving to Lola Coupé as of Silverstone 1000km Planet Le Mans, 2008-09-04, retrieved 2008-09-30^
- Une HPD ARX-01d pour RML ! Endurance-Info, 2011-01-15, retrieved 2011-01-21^
- RML Motorsport News - RML Group - from Concept to Reality retrieved 2010-12-06