Ron Tauranac founded Ralt in 1974, after years spent as a designer, partner and later manager of the Brabham Team. The first product released by the new English factory is the Ralt RT1, a simple and versatile single-seater used in Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula racing Atlantic between 1975 and 1978. The RT1 chassis is an L72 sheet aluminum monocoque 16 gauge with a steel subframe behind the cockpit to support the engine and Hewland FT200 gearbox. The design of the car is rather simple but very effective, with the bodywork and a large full-width fiberglass nose while a wing is attached to the gearbox at the rear via a tubular frame.
Among the greatest successes of the Ralt RT1 are those of Larry Perkins who won the European Cup of Formula 3 in 1975. Subsequently came the victories in Formula 2 at the hands of the German-Swedish driver Freddy Kottulinsky at the Nurburgring.
The Roman driver Elio De Angelis won the 1977 Italian Formula 3 championship with this single-seater. The British single-seater, with its rounded shapes and studied aerodynamics is very competitive on fast circuits. Among the victories of the young Roman champion with this single-seater, there is the one at the 1977 Monza Lottery Grand Prix. Elio De Angelis was awarded by the event’s godmother, famous Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida.
