Richard Lloyd Racing
Encyclopedia
Richard Lloyd Racing originally named GTi Engineering, was a British
auto racing
team created in 1977 by driver Richard Lloyd
. Originally named for the Volkswagen Golf GTI
s that Lloyd raced in the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC), they went on to become a successful Porsche
privateer
in the World Sportscar Championship
(WSC). Richard Lloyd Racing eventually folded at the end of the 1990 season
due to the increased cost of the World Championship.
The team was also known for their extensively modified Porsche 956
s 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.
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
. The tuning company was eventually sold off, but it remains in existence today.
, 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.
In 1980, GTi Engineering moved from Volkswagen to partner brand Audi
, entering the new Audi 80
in the BSCC. Lloyd was able to sign British drivers Stirling Moss
and Martin Brundle
to the team for that season. Following the 1980 campaign, GTi Engineering was approached by Porsche
about becoming the primary European entrant of the company's new 924
Carrera GTR in endurance racing. To help with the project, GTi Engineering was able to sign Japanese
camera firm Canon as the primary sponsor, leading to the team being known as Canon Racing.
won their class in their home event, the 1000 km Brands Hatch.
For 1982, the team's 924 Carrera GTRs were adapted to comply with the International Motor Sports Association
's GTO class regulations. Although this made the car ineligible for class victories in most European events, it was still able to compete with cars of similar classes. The team struggled for results that year, but a best result of fifth overall was achieved at the 1000 km Nürburgring. The team outlasted several Group C
and Group 6
sports prototype
s to finish high in the results.
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
. A final appearance on the podium was earned in the final European race of the year at Mugello Circuit
. Lammers finished seventh in the Drivers Championship.
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 video camera
within the cockpit
to record the entire event. Although the added weight of the camera systems hampered the performance of the 956, the car was still driven as normal by Richard Lloyd and teammate Nick Mason
, and it made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
. GTi's main 956 entry, however, remained a front runner in the hands of Lammers and John Fitzpatrick. Jonathan Palmer
substituted for Fitzpatrick and, along with Lammers, took the team's first World Championship victory at Brands Hatch
, two laps ahead of a Joest Racing
Porsche. Soon after the victory, the team debuted its new car, the custom-built 956 GTi. The GTi was quickly able to usurp its predecessor, taking second at Imola
. The team ended the year with Lammers and Fitzpatrick tied for fifth in the Drivers Championship.
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 962C
. The season began with Lammers and Palmer earning good results, and the team managed to earn a second place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
with Jonathan Palmer
, James Weaver
, and Lloyd himself completing the race only three laps behind the winning Joest Porsche but ahead of the factory Rothmans Porsche. Trouble occurred during practice for the 1000 km Spa when a tyre let go, sending the car into the barrier at 140 mi/h, injuring Palmer and badly damaging the car, forcing it to undergo a lengthy rebuild. The team returned to the championship at Fuji but was unable to finish the event. Richard Lloyd Racing ended the year fifth in the Teams Championship, although Palmer was only twelfth in the Drivers Championship.
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. 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.
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. 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
. 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
, earning them fifth in the Teams Championship and helping Baldi tie for eighth in the Drivers Championship. The team also won the post-season exhibition event at Kyalami
, South Africa
, with Jochen Mass
driving.
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. Rather than participate in the Fuji event, the team went to North America for an exhibition event in Tampa, Florida
, participating against Camel GT Championship
teams. American driver Price Cobb
joined James Weaver
, and the duo earned third place behind the American Electramotive Nissan
and the European Brun
Porsche.
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. A home success outside the World Championship was achieved when Needell took second in a Supercup
event at Silverstone
.
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. 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. After the season ended, Richard Lloyd Racing was closed due to a lack of funding necessary to continue on into 1991.
Following a successful debut season with the 956 in 1983, Richard Lloyd commissioned designer Nigel Stroud to develop a replacement monocoque
and base chassis
for the team's car in an attempt to increase structural rigidity over that of the factory Porsche unit. Aluminium
composite honeycomb was used in place of aluminium sheet metal
in constructing the new monocoque. This car, originally 956 chassis #106, was replaced by the Stroud-designed chassis designated #106B, leading to the car being renamed a 956 GTi.
Further modifications were made to the car once the monocoque had been completed, which included replacing the entire Porsche front suspension
setup with a custom design. Bodywork modifications were also carried out by automotive designer Peter Stevens in an attempt to increase the overall downforce
of the car on smaller circuits; a narrow wing devised by Lloyd and team manager Greene at the 1984 1000 km of Brands Hatch was placed on two vertical struts, attached to the nose of the car between the headlights and fenders. In addition, the standard rear wing was replaced with a two element design at different angles of attack
, with a narrow gap between the two. The wings were also constructed from carbon fibre, lighter than the standard material used on 956s.
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. 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. 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.
As the 1987 season continued on, modifications were made to the front 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 Jaguar: bodywork covered the sides of the rear wheels of the car, allowing for better airflow.
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. Dyson Racing
purchased chassis #202, which they further modified for the Camel GT Championship
, becoming known as #DR1. Dyson's 962C GTi won a single event in San Antonio, Texas
. ADA Engineering received #203 for the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans
before using it again in 1994
with Team Nippon. Chassis #106B was sold after Richard Lloyd had replaced it, and it ended up in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
in the hands of Trust Racing Team
from 1988 to 1990, then the Nisseki Racing Team in 1991. Chassis #200 also ran in Japan under the Alpha Cubic banner in 1990.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
auto racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
team created in 1977 by driver Richard Lloyd
Richard Lloyd (racing driver)
Richard Lloyd was a British racing car driver and founder of multiple sports car and touring car teams...
. Originally named for the Volkswagen Golf GTI
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
s that Lloyd raced in the British Saloon Car Championship (BSCC), they went on to become a successful Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
privateer
Privateer (motorsport)
In motor sport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an automobile manufacturer. Privateers teams are often found competing in rally and circuit racing events, and often include competitors who build and maintain their own vehicles...
in the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
(WSC). Richard Lloyd Racing eventually folded at the end of the 1990 season
1990 World Sportscar Championship season
The 1990 World Sportscar Championship season was the 38th season of FIA World Sportscar Championship racing. It featured the 1990 FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship for Drivers and the 1990 FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship for Teams, both of which were contested over a series for cars...
due to the increased cost of the World Championship.
The team was also known for their extensively modified Porsche 956
Porsche 956
The Porsche 956 was a Group C sports-prototype racing car designed by Norbert Singer and built by Porsche in 1982 for the FIA World Sportscar Championship...
s and 962Cs
Porsche 962
The Porsche 962 was a sports-prototype racing car built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed mainly to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, although it would later compete in the European Group C formula as the 956 had...
, 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.
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
Car tuning
Car tuning is both an industry and a hobby, in which an automobile is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and appearance. As most vehicles leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics...
for Volkswagen and Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
products. Parts and full conversions were constructed in their shared race shop at Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
. The tuning company was eventually sold off, but it remains in existence today.
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 GolfVolkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
, which had been launched in 1976, and primary backing came from Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
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.
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
, entering the new Audi 80
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
in the BSCC. Lloyd was able to sign British drivers Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
and Martin Brundle
Martin Brundle
Martin John Brundle is a British racing driver from England, known as a Formula One driver and as an F1 commentator for ITV Sport from 1997 to 2008, the BBC from 2009 to 2011 and Sky Sports from 2012....
to the team for that season. Following the 1980 campaign, GTi Engineering was approached by Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
about becoming the primary European entrant of the company's new 924
Porsche 924
The Porsche 924 is an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. A two-door, 2+2 coupé, the 924 replaced the 914 as the company's entry-level model, and was the model that finally retired the 912. In production terms, the 924 was the first Porsche model powered by a...
Carrera GTR in endurance racing. To help with the project, GTi Engineering was able to sign Japanese
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
camera firm Canon as the primary sponsor, 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. Victory quickly followed as Lloyd and driver Andy RouseAndy Rouse
Andrew "Andy" Rouse is an English racing driver, most notably in the BTCC. He won the BTCC in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985....
won their class in their home event, the 1000 km Brands Hatch.
For 1982, the team's 924 Carrera GTRs were adapted to comply with the International Motor Sports Association
International Motor Sports Association
The International Motor Sports Association is an American sports car auto racing sanctioning body based in Braselton, Georgia. It was started by John Bishop, a former employee of SCCA , and his wife Peggy in 1969 with help from Bill France, Sr...
's GTO class regulations. Although this made the car ineligible for class victories in most European events, it was still able to compete with cars of similar classes. The team struggled for results that year, but a best result of fifth overall was achieved at the 1000 km Nürburgring. The team outlasted several Group C
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
and Group 6
Group 6 (racing)
Group 6 was the official designation applied by the FIA to two motor racing classifications, the Prototype-Sports Car category from 1966 to 1971 and the Two-Seater Racing Cars class from 1976 to 1982.-Group 6 Prototype-Sports Cars :...
sports prototype
Sports prototype
A sports prototype, also referred to as simply a prototype, is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars differ from street-legal and production-based racing cars that also compete in sports car racing.Prototype racing cars have...
s to finish high in the results.
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 CGroup C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
956
Porsche 956
The Porsche 956 was a Group C sports-prototype racing car designed by Norbert Singer and built by Porsche in 1982 for the FIA World Sportscar Championship...
. 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
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
, Jan Lammers
Jan Lammers
Johannes "Jan" Lammers, , is a racing driver and team principal from the Netherlands. He participated in 41 Formula One Grand Prix races, debuting on January 21, 1979. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1988 and later participated in the race with his own team Racing for Holland...
and Thierry Boutsen
Thierry Boutsen
Thierry Marc Boutsen is a former racing driver who raced for the Arrows, Benetton, Williams, Ligier and Jordan teams in Formula One.-Career:thumb|left|Boutsen driving for [[Arrows]] at the [[1984 Dallas Grand Prix]]....
secured a podium finish, which was followed by another at the Nürburgring
Nürburgring
The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about...
. A final appearance on the podium was earned in the final European race of the year at Mugello Circuit
Mugello Circuit
Mugello Circuit is a race track in the Mugello region of Italy near Florence. Its length is . It has 15 turns and a long straight.Grand Prix motorcycle racing host an annual event here . Also, the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters hold an annual event. The track is property of Scuderia Ferrari which...
. Lammers finished seventh in the Drivers Championship.
Video camera
A video camera is a camera used for electronic motion picture acquisition, initially developed by the television industry but now common in other applications as well. The earliest video cameras were those of John Logie Baird, based on the electromechanical Nipkow disk and used by the BBC in...
within the cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
to record the entire event. Although the added weight of the camera systems hampered the performance of the 956, the car was still driven as normal by Richard Lloyd and teammate Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
, and it made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1984 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1984 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 52nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 16 – 17 June 1984. It was also the third round of the World Endurance Championship....
. GTi's main 956 entry, however, remained a front runner in the hands of Lammers and John Fitzpatrick. Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Palmer
Dr. Jonathan Charles Palmer is an entrepreneur and former racing driver from England. Educated at Brighton College, he won the 1981 British Formula Three Championship and the 1983 European Formula Two Championship. He participated in 87 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 25, 1983...
substituted for Fitzpatrick and, along with Lammers, took the team's first World Championship victory at Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch
Brands Hatch is a motor racing circuit near West Kingsdown in Kent, England. First used as a dirt track motorcycle circuit on farmland, it hosted 12 runnings of the British Grand Prix between 1964 and 1986 and currently holds many British and international racing events...
, two laps ahead of a Joest Racing
Joest Racing
Joest Racing is a racing team that was established in 1978 by former Porsche works racer Reinhold Joest...
Porsche. Soon after the victory, the team debuted its new car, the custom-built 956 GTi. The GTi was quickly able to usurp its predecessor, taking second at Imola
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
The Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari is an auto racing circuit near the Italian town of Imola, east of Bologna and east of the Ferrari factory in Maranello....
. The team ended the year with Lammers and Fitzpatrick tied for fifth in the Drivers Championship.
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 962C
Porsche 962
The Porsche 962 was a sports-prototype racing car built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed mainly to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, although it would later compete in the European Group C formula as the 956 had...
. The season began with Lammers and Palmer earning good results, and the team managed to earn a second place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1985 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 53rd Grand Prix of Endurance as well as the fourth round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France, on June 15 and 16 1985....
with Jonathan Palmer
Jonathan Palmer
Dr. Jonathan Charles Palmer is an entrepreneur and former racing driver from England. Educated at Brighton College, he won the 1981 British Formula Three Championship and the 1983 European Formula Two Championship. He participated in 87 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on September 25, 1983...
, James Weaver
James Weaver (racing driver)
James Weaver is a British former racing driver. He began his career in the European F3. In 1982 he was the Eddie Jordan Racing team's primary driver, but in 1983 he went back to the European F3. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 at the Oulton Park circuit in March that year...
, and Lloyd himself completing the race only three laps behind the winning Joest Porsche but ahead of the factory Rothmans Porsche. Trouble occurred during practice for the 1000 km Spa when a tyre let go, sending the car into the barrier at 140 mi/h, injuring Palmer and badly damaging the car, forcing it to undergo a lengthy rebuild. The team returned to the championship at Fuji but was unable to finish the event. Richard Lloyd Racing ended the year fifth in the Teams Championship, although Palmer was only twelfth in the Drivers Championship.
1986 – 1990
Mauro Baldi
Mauro Baldi is an Italian former Formula One driver who raced for the Arrows, Alfa Romeo and Spirit teams.He started his career in rallying in 1972 and turned to circuit racing in 1975 with the Italian Renault 5 Cup...
and Bob Wollek
Bob Wollek
Bob Wollek , nicknamed "Brilliant Bob", was a race car driver from Strasbourg, France. He was killed on March 16, 2001 at age 57 in a road accident in Florida while riding a bicycle back to his accommodation after the day's practice sessions for the following day's race, the 12 Hours of...
in the car. A second place finish at the Nürburgring was the only other podium
Podium
A podium is a platform that is used to raise something to a short distance above its surroundings. It derives from the Greek πόδι In architecture a building can rest on a large podium. Podia can also be used to raise people, for instance the conductor of an orchestra stands on a podium as do many...
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
Interserie
Interserie is the name of a European-based motorsport series started in 1970 that allows for a wide variety of racing cars from various eras and series to compete with less limited rules than in other series....
event at Richard Lloyd Racing's home track of Thruxton
Thruxton Circuit
Thruxton Circuit is a motor racing circuit located near the village of Thruxton in Hampshire, England which is used to host a number of motorsport events including British Touring Cars and Formula 3 racing....
, winning one heat and finishing second overall in the combined results.
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. 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
1987 200 Miles of Norisring
The 1987 200 Meilen von Nürnberg was the sixth round of the 1987 World Sports-Prototype Championship, known as the ADAC Norisring Trophäe, as well as the second round of the 1987 German Supercup, known as the Bilstein Cup...
. 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
Fuji Speedway
is a race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s and hosted the first Formula One race in Japan in 1976. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and national racing...
, earning them fifth in the Teams Championship and helping Baldi tie for eighth in the Drivers Championship. The team also won the post-season exhibition event at Kyalami
Kyalami
Kyalami is a motor racing circuit located in Midrand, Gauteng province, South Africa. The circuit has been used for Grand Prix and Formula One races and has hosted the South African Grand Prix many times. In recent years, the area surrounding the circuit has developed into a residential and...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, with Jochen Mass
Jochen Mass
Jochen Richard Mass is a former race car driver from Germany.He participated in 114 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on July 14, 1973 at the British Grand Prix...
driving.
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, participating against Camel GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
teams. American driver Price Cobb
Price Cobb
Price Cobb won the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans together with John Nielsen and Martin Brundle in a Jaguar XJR-12. He also owned an Indy Racing League team in 1998 and 1999 for Roberto Guerrero and Jim Guthrie...
joined James Weaver
James Weaver (racing driver)
James Weaver is a British former racing driver. He began his career in the European F3. In 1982 he was the Eddie Jordan Racing team's primary driver, but in 1983 he went back to the European F3. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 at the Oulton Park circuit in March that year...
, and the duo earned third place behind the American Electramotive Nissan
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
and the European Brun
Brun Motorsport
Brun Motorsport GmbH was a Swiss auto racing team founded by driver Walter Brun in 1983. They competed as a Porsche privateer team in sports car racing for their entire existence, running in a multitude of international championships. They notably won the World Sportscar Championship in 1986 and...
Porsche.
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
Derek Bell (auto racer)
Derek Reginald Bell MBE is a former racing driver from England who was extremely successful in sportscar racing, winning five times at Le Mans. He also raced in Formula One for the Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams...
, Tiff Needell
Tiff Needell
Timothy "Tiff" Needell isa British racing driver and television presenter. He is best known as a former co-presenter of Top Gear and current co-presenter of Fifth Gear.-Biography:...
, and Steven Andskär
Steven Andskär
Steven Andskär is a Swedish race car driver. His long career started out in the mid 1970s when he competed in karting. After that—in the early 1980s—he went from karting to driving several races in Formula 3. Later on he advanced to Formula 3000 which he raced in from 1986 until 1988...
. A fifth place finish at Dijon-Prenois
Dijon-Prenois
Dijon-Prenois is a motor racing circuit located in Prenois, near Dijon, France. The undulating track is noted for its fast, sweeping bends....
and fourth place finish in the finale at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a race track in Mexico City, Mexico, named for the famous racing drivers Ricardo and Pedro Rodríguez. The circuit got its name shortly after it opened when Ricardo Rodríguez died in practice for the non-Championship 1962 Mexican Grand Prix...
were once again the only points earned by Richard Lloyd Racing, leaving them ninth in the Teams Championship. A home success outside the World Championship was achieved when Needell took second in a Supercup
Supercup
The series was initially sponsored by sport auto magazine during its inaugural season, then replaced by Würth the following two years. Television network Sat.1 sponsor the championship's final year.-Format:...
event at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
.
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
Manuel Reuter
Manuel Reuter is a German former race car driver.He has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice:*in 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans for Sauber-Mercedes*in 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans for Joest Racing...
, James Weaver, and Steven Andskär. A sixth place at Spa
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race. It is also home to the all Volkswagen club event, 25 Hours of Spa, run by the Uniroyal Fun Cup. It is one of the most challenging race tracks in the world, mainly due to its...
and third at a shortened Montreal
Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a motor racing circuit, venue for the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix, NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series and Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series....
event were the highlights of the year, and Richard Lloyd Racing was once again ninth in the championship with three points. The team also ran a standard 962C at Le Mans
1990 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 58th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 16 and 17 1990.-Pre-race:This was the first race after the installation of two chicanes along the Mulsanne Straight in an attempt to slow the prototypes down after speeds of were reached in previous...
for Nick Mason
Nick Mason
Nicholas Berkeley "Nick" Mason is an English drummer and songwriter, best known for his work with Pink Floyd. He was the only constant member of the band since its formation in 1965...
. The Mason-owned car finished eleventh while the team's 962C GTi withdrew after a pit fire. After the season ended, Richard Lloyd Racing was closed due to a lack of funding necessary to continue on into 1991.
956 GTi
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
and base chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
for the team's car in an attempt to increase structural rigidity over that of the factory Porsche unit. Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
composite honeycomb was used in place of aluminium sheet metal
Sheet metal
Sheet metal is simply metal formed into thin and flat pieces. It is one of the fundamental forms used in metalworking, and can be cut and bent into a variety of different shapes. Countless everyday objects are constructed of the material...
in constructing the new monocoque. This car, originally 956 chassis #106, was replaced by the Stroud-designed chassis designated #106B, leading to the car being renamed a 956 GTi.
Further modifications were made to the car once the monocoque had been completed, which included replacing the entire Porsche front suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
setup with a custom design. Bodywork modifications were also carried out by automotive designer Peter Stevens in an attempt to increase the overall downforce
Downforce
Downforce is a downwards thrust created by the aerodynamic characteristics of a car. The purpose of downforce is to allow a car to travel faster through a corner by increasing the vertical force on the tires, thus creating more grip....
of the car on smaller circuits; a narrow wing devised by Lloyd and team manager Greene at the 1984 1000 km of Brands Hatch was placed on two vertical struts, attached to the nose of the car between the headlights and fenders. In addition, the standard rear wing was replaced with a two element design at different angles of attack
Angle of attack
Angle of attack is a term used in fluid dynamics to describe the angle between a reference line on a lifting body and the vector representing the relative motion between the lifting body and the fluid through which it is moving...
, with a narrow gap between the two. The wings were also constructed from carbon fibre, lighter than the standard material used on 956s.
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. This chassis also adapted several newer 962 elements, including moving the cockpit
Cockpit
A cockpit or flight deck is the area, usually near the front of an aircraft, from which a pilot controls the aircraft. Most modern cockpits are enclosed, except on some small aircraft, and cockpits on large airliners are also physically separated from the cabin...
farther back from the front axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
. This chassis served with the team until the end of 1986, when it was replaced by the new 962C GTi. Following its retirement, 956 GTi was refurbished in 1990 and is now used in historic motorsport
Historic motorsport
Historic motorsport relies on cars of a particular era. Events are purely regulated to only allow cars of a certain era to participate. Only safety precautions are modernized in these hobbyist races. A historical event can be of various types of motorsport disciplines...
events. The car's initial Canon paint scheme is used once again.
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. 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 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.As the 1987 season continued on, modifications were made to the front 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
Diffuser (automotive)
A diffuser, in an automotive context, is a shaped section of the car underbody which improves the car's aerodynamic properties by enhancing the transition between the high-velocity airflow underneath the car and the much slower freestream airflow of the ambient atmosphere...
was added to aid front downforce. At the rear, Nigel Stroud adapted a design element which had been used by Jaguar: bodywork covered the sides of the rear wheels of the car, allowing for better airflow.
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. Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing
Dyson Racing is a professional sports car racing team based in Poughkeepsie, New York in the United States. Founded by Rob Dyson in 1974, the team is one of the longest-running and most successful privateer racing organizations. Over the years, it has competed in IMSA GTO and GTP, SCCA Trans-Am,...
purchased chassis #202, which they further modified for the Camel GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
, becoming known as #DR1. Dyson's 962C GTi won a single event in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. ADA Engineering received #203 for the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans
1992 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 60th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 20 and 21 1992. It was also the third round of the Sportscar World Championship...
before using it again in 1994
1994 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 62nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 19 and 20, 1994.-Race:The 1994 race was won by a car that had its roots in a 10 year old design...
with Team Nippon. Chassis #106B was sold after Richard Lloyd had replaced it, and it ended up in the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
All Japan Sports Prototype Championship
The , abbreviated as JSPC, formed by the Japanese Automobile Federation, was a domestic championship which took place in Japan for Group C and IMSA GTP prototype cars and also featured cars that were eligible for touring car racing in its earlier years...
in the hands of Trust Racing Team
GReddy
is a Japanese automotive aftermarket company specialising in performance tuning parts for cars. The company is widely known for its subbrand of tuning parts GReddy and the turbochargers under this brand.-The Trust Company:...
from 1988 to 1990, then the Nisseki Racing Team in 1991. Chassis #200 also ran in Japan under the Alpha Cubic banner in 1990.