Richard Lloyd Racing

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United Kingdom Richard Lloyd Racing
Founded1977
Folded1990
Team principal(s)Richard Lloyd
Keith Greene
Former seriesBritish Saloon Car Championship
World Sportscar Championship

Richard Lloyd Racing (RLR), originally named GTi Engineering, was a

1990 season due to the increased cost of the World Championship.[2]

The team was also known for their extensively modified Porsche 956s and 962Cs, developed to overcome some problems in the original Porsche design and construction. The cars, all named GTi after the team, were able to outperform their standard counterparts. The GTis made some of the first uses of exotic materials and innovative design elements that would later be adopted by Porsche and other manufacturers.[3]

Even after the racing team had moved on to running Porsches, GTi Engineering remained a division of Richard Lloyd Racing and continued to offer car tuning for Volkswagen and Audi products. Parts and full conversions were constructed in their shared race shop at Silverstone Circuit.[4] The tuning company was eventually sold off, but it remains in existence today.[5]

Racing history

1977 – 1980

GTi Engineering was created by Richard Lloyd in 1977 as his personal team in the

British Saloon Car Championship, in which he had been competing for several years. The team was the primary entrant of the new GTi version of the Volkswagen Golf, which had been launched in 1976, and primary backing came from Volkswagen Great Britain. Lloyd not only managed the team, but also continued to drive. He earned a best result in the BSCC in 1978 when he finished second in the championship, and he earned several wins over the three-year period of the GTi program.[1]

Canon
entered motorsports by sponsoring this car.

In 1980, GTi Engineering moved from Volkswagen to partner brand

Canon as the primary sponsor,[2]
leading to the team being known as Canon Racing.

1981 – 1982

The team made their international debut at the 1981

1000 km Monza, where drivers Richard Lloyd and Tony Dron finished in eighth place and second in their class.[6] Victory quickly followed as Lloyd and driver Andy Rouse won their class in their home event, the 1000 km Brands Hatch.[6]

For 1982, the team's 924 Carrera GTRs were adapted to comply with the

Group 6 sports prototypes to finish high in the results.[7]

1983 – 1985

Following the 1982 season, Porsche ended their 924 Carrera GTR development program and the team moved on to Porsche's newest motorsport offering, the Group C 956. This promoted GTi Engineering to the top class in the World Championship, which allowed them to compete for overall wins. In the team's second race with the 956, their home event at Silverstone, Jan Lammers and Thierry Boutsen secured a podium finish, which was followed by another at the Nürburgring.[8] A final appearance on the podium was earned in the final European race of the year at Mugello Circuit.[9] Lammers finished seventh in the Drivers Championship.[10]

The Canon Racing Porsche 956 GTi, which the team used until 1986

For 1984, GTi continued their success in the World Championship. As part of an agreement with sponsor Canon, GTi Engineering entered a second car in select rounds of the championship for the purpose of carrying an on-board

Imola.[12] The team ended the year with Lammers and Fitzpatrick tied for fifth in the Drivers Championship.[10]

During 1985, the team officially changed its title to Richard Lloyd Racing, although the GTi Engineering name was retained as part of the company. The team continued on with their 956s, even though some competitors were now using the improved

1000 km Spa when a tyre let go, sending the car into the barrier at 140 mph (230 km/h), injuring Palmer and badly damaging the car, forcing it to undergo a lengthy rebuild.[14] The team returned to the championship at Fuji but was unable to finish the event.[13] Richard Lloyd Racing ended the year fifth in the Teams Championship, although Palmer was only twelfth in the Drivers Championship.[10]

1986 – 1990

A 962C GTi as run by Richard Lloyd Racing in 1989

Canon chose to end their sponsorship of Richard Lloyd Racing in 1986, leaving the team to sign Liqui Moly as a replacement. The team pressed on with the 956 GTi, using a variety of rotating drivers without much success early in the season. Their results improved, however, as Brands Hatch once again saw success for the squad when they earned their second World Championship victory by four laps over Joest Racing, with factory Porsche drivers Mauro Baldi and Bob Wollek in the car.[15] A second-place finish at the Nürburgring was the only other podium showing of the year, and the team finished the season sixth in the Teams Championship. Outside of the World Championship, the 956 GTi also made an appearance at an Interserie event at Richard Lloyd Racing's home track of Thruxton, winning one heat and finishing second overall in the combined results.[16]

Richard Lloyd Racing replaced their aging 956 GTi prior to the 1987 season. A new 962C-based car was obtained, although it was once again built to a unique GTi specification.[17] Jonathan Palmer and Mauro Baldi became full-season drivers for the squad. The team repeated their lack of early success from the previous year, once again earning a victory in the second half of the season. However, unlike the previous Brands Hatch successes, this one was earned at the Norisring sprint event.[18] Brands Hatch remained lucky for the team though, as they earned a second place that year. Richard Lloyd Racing closed off the season with a third at Fuji,[18] earning them fifth in the Teams Championship and helping Baldi tie for eighth in the Drivers Championship.[10] The team also won the post-season exhibition event at Kyalami, South Africa, with Jochen Mass driving.[19]

A Porsche 962C GTi in the team's 1990 color scheme, sponsored by Italiya.

A limited schedule of races were run in 1988, as Liqui Moly ended their sponsoring of the team. New backing instead came from Porsche Great Britain. A fourth-place finish at the opening sprint event was followed by a string of accidents and disqualifications, leading to the team missing several races for repairs. A seventh-place finish at the Nürburgring was the only other finish to earn points for the team, leaving them ninth in the Teams Championship as they ended their season early.

Nissan and the European Brun Porsche.[21]

An evolution of the World Championship in 1989, with a schedule consisting entirely of shorter sprint events, helped reduce the cost for the teams and allowed Richard Lloyd Racing to restructure and add a second car to their line-up. Drivers included

Derek Bell, Tiff Needell, and Steven Andskär. A fifth-place finish at Dijon-Prenois and fourth-place finish in the finale at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez were once again the only points earned by Richard Lloyd Racing, leaving them ninth in the Teams Championship.[22] A home success outside the World Championship was achieved when Needell took second in a Supercup event at Silverstone.[23]

For 1990, Richard Lloyd Racing signed Japanese firm Italiya as the primary sponsor for the team. The team was reduced to a single entry, primarily driven by Manuel Reuter, James Weaver, and Steven Andskär. A sixth place at Spa and third at a shortened Montreal event were the highlights of the year, and Richard Lloyd Racing was once again ninth in the championship with three points.[24] The team also ran a standard 962C at Le Mans for Nick Mason. The Mason-owned car finished eleventh while the team's 962C GTi withdrew after a pit fire.[25] After the season ended, Richard Lloyd Racing was closed due to a lack of funding necessary to continue on into 1991.[2]

GTi Porsches

956 GTi

GTi Engineering's 956 GTi chassis #106BII following restoration

Following a successful debut season with the 956 in 1983, Richard Lloyd commissioned designer

composite honeycomb was used in place of aluminium sheet metal in constructing the new monocoque.[3] This car, originally 956 chassis #106, was replaced by the Stroud-designed chassis designated #106B, leading to the car being renamed a 956 GTi.[3]

Further modifications were made to the car once the monocoque had been completed, which included replacing the entire Porsche front

carbon fibre, lighter than the standard aluminium used on 956s.[3]

The #106B GTi chassis was badly damaged in an accident at the

1000 km Spa in 1985, requiring the team to build another monocoque known as #106BII.[3][14] This chassis also adapted several newer 962 elements, including moving the cockpit farther back from the front axle. This chassis served with the team until the end of 1986, when it was replaced by the new 962C GTi.[3] Following its retirement, 956 GTi was refurbished in 1990 and is now used in historic motorsport events. The car's initial Canon paint scheme is used once again.[3]

962C GTi

In an attempt to catch the improving capabilities of the factory 962Cs, Lloyd commissioned the construction of a new car for the 1987 season.[17] As before, the monocoque was designed by Nigel Stroud, while standard 962 parts were adapted to fit alongside custom-built pieces. The first chassis, intentionally retaining the identification #106B but not the same chassis as used on the 956 GTi, once again featured noticeable differences from its factory brethren. The rear body of the car was completely redesigned, with the rear wing no longer part of the long tail bodywork. Instead, the wing hung off the rear of the car, attached only by struts at the center.[17]

The custom front-end of a 962C GTi chassis
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Richard Lloyd Racing.

As the 1987 season continued on, modifications were made to the front bodywork of the car as well. The fenders and nose were rounded off, while the front brake cooling ducts and smaller

headlights featured an all-new design. These front end improvements were continued into 1988 with the construction of another car, chassis #200. The central gap on the bottom of the nose was filled in, allowing for the relocation of the brake cooling ducts towards the center of the car, while an extended splitter was added to aid front downforce. At the rear, Nigel Stroud adapted a design element which had been used by TWR-Jaguar: bodywork panels covered the sides of the rear wheels of the car, allowing for better airflow.[17]

Chassis #201 joined the team in 1989, identical to the other team car. The new car initially retained the rear wheel covers that #200 had used for improved aerodynamic performance, but they were later removed in 1990. The brake cooling ducts were also moved into larger openings higher on the nose.

Two further 962C GTi chassis were constructed by GTi Engineering.

All Japan Sports Prototype Championship in the hands of Trust Racing Team from 1988 to 1990,[29][30][31] then the Nisseki Racing Team in 1991.[32] Chassis #200 also ran in Japan under the Alpha Cubic banner in 1990.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Richard Lloyd — BRDC Archive Biography". British Racing Drivers' Club. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d "Richard Lloyd (February 18, 1945 – March 30, 2008)". Daily Sports Car. 1 April 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "RLR-Porsche 956-106B". Group C Ltd. Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  4. ^ "Prepared by GTi Engineering". VW One. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  5. ^ "GTI". BBR. – GTi. 2003. Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  6. ^ a b "World Championship for Drivers and Makes 1981". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  7. ^ "FIA World Endurance Championship 1982". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  8. ^ "FIA World Endurance Championship 1983". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  9. ^ "European Endurance Championship 1983". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  10. ^ a b c d "World Championship — final positions and tables". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  11. ^ "Porsche 956-007". 962.com. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  12. ^ a b c "FIA World Endurance Championship 1984". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  13. ^ a b "FIA World Endurance Championship 1985". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  14. ^ a b "Porsche 956 chassis numbers". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 1 October 2005. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  15. ^ "FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1986". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2007. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  16. ^ "FIA-Coupe d'Europe Interserie 1986". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  17. ^ a b c d "Porsche 962Gti-106b". 962.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  18. ^ a b "FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1987". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  19. ^ "Non-Championship Races 1987". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2008.
  20. ^ "FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1988". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  21. ^ "Non Championship Races 1988". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
  22. ^ "FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1989". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  23. ^ "Supercup 1989". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  24. ^ "1990 World Sports-Prototype Championship 1990". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  25. ^ "Non Championship Races 1990". 2 October 2005. Archived from the original on 26 April 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  26. ^ "Porsche 962 chassis numbers". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 27 May 2006. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
  27. ^ "International Motor Sports Association 1988". World Sports Racing Prototypes. 14 February 2007. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Retrieved 26 February 2008.
  28. ^ "1991 Porsche 962C – Sold, Chassis No. RLR 202". Canepa Design. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2008.
  29. ^ "JSPC 1988". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  30. ^ "JSPC 1989". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  31. ^ a b "JSPC 1990". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  32. ^ "JSPC 1991". World Sports Prototype Racing. Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 9 March 2008.

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