How RML Group’s manufacturing investment helps it produce championship winning race cars and components
RML Group is widely recognized for its engineering excellence, with Autosport magazine calling the business “the biggest car company you’ve never heard of”.
This anonymity is in part due to working with many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry, proving bespoke parts for a range of products. These extend from components for classic cars that are no longer being manufactured to innovative technologies that are integrated into contemporary models.
In recent years, RML Group’s portfolio, along with its reputation, has significantly expanded, and it now exceeds the boundaries of motorsport, where it made its name producing world championship winning race cars.
Nevertheless, the design, manufacture, and operation of racing cars has provided a strong foundation for RML to grow into the sectors in which it now operates. CEO, Michael Mallock, reveals more: “As well as maintaining a strong motorsport operation, the business is also home to an engineering division which works with partners to manufacture bespoke components. There is also the business-to-customer operation which comprises the design, build and supply of high-end, luxury vehicles. The final sector is our powertrain division. This is an area that has seen significant growth over recent years as we have expanded into battery systems and their integration.”
Engineering excellence
RML Group is launching four exciting new products which Michael outlines. “The first, which we’ve just shared publicly for the first time is the P39, a road legal GT car inspired by the latest Le Mans hyper-cars. This approach produces a car which can shrug off long road drives just as easily as it turns into a high-precision weapon for the track. Based on a Porsche 911, the P39 has been totally transformed by our engineers. It has all-new carbon body work which includes active aerodynamic elements at the front and rear as well as a Formula One style drag reduction system. It also boasts improved suspension, more power – up to 900 horsepower (BHP) – as well as a custom interior. It’s a project that has been in the making for years, so seeing the positive reception it has already garnered has been very satisfying.
“The second,” Michael continues, “under our motorsport division, is a new track car which we are developing with a partner and will be primarily for the US market. It is extremely lightweight and employs numerous innovations that bring not only performance but also safety. It’s an entry-level track-only car, and at this price point it is significantly faster and safer than any competition. We are also working on what we have termed a super classic vehicle. We have taken the recent trend for resto-mod cars and put our own spin on it. We’re basing it on an Aston Martin, one of many people’s favorite cars from the 1970s and 1980s. We tend to remember these cars through rose-tinted glasses, and when we see them in real life they often aren’t quite as nice as we remembered. So, this project is about bringing the aesthetics in line with the image we hold, while adding reliability, performance and usability.
“The final addition comes from the powertrain department, and it’s called VarEVolt. It’s a variable battery module which is made bespoke for each client’s needs. Because it’s so adaptable we can make versions suitable for last mile delivery vehicles as well as the high-end performance applications like aerospace or motorsport, of which we have already seen a few. The system has been used in a road registered vehicle that set a new record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed recently. We believe that this is the highest power density battery system in any homologated road car.”
RML Group is celebrating 40 years in business in 2024, with each new product launch representing a decade of its history. Michael reflects on the factors that have contributed to this longevity and ongoing success. “I have always shared the same principles and key objectives as my father who founded the business. The core of this approach is about engineering excellence. It’s a motorsport mentality, in racing, your objective is to win, you do this by being the best in class, coming up with the most innovative solutions and outperforming your rivals. We carry this into everything we do. so whether the application is aerospace, military, or racing, the approach is the same.”
Michael then highlights some key recent investments that have helped the business stay ahead of the curve in an industry that evolves at breakneck speed. “As well as investing in our people, we have also invested in some specific technology. We have integrated laser welding equipment which has transformed our battery production. When we began manufacturing batteries it was a very time-consuming process requiring very technical welding to fuse the cells in the battery together. Working with a government agency we developed a semi-automated system which reduced the manufacturing time to 40 minutes per module. With new equipment this process is down to under a minute.”
Pole position
As Michael has already touched upon, people are a central component of the business’ capabilities. He expands on how this approach influences operations. “We have always taken people management very seriously and in the 1990s we were one of the first motorsport organizations to have a dedicated human resources department. Since the business was founded, we have also had apprenticeship programs throughout the different departments.” Michael himself was an apprentice at the company when he was 16, working his way through the various divisions.
“Our graduate program is also well recognized throughout the industry,” he continues. “Perhaps a bit too well recognized,” he jokes, “because a common theme has emerged of Formula One teams poaching our graduates, which I’ll take as a compliment! Some of the best engineers we have now came to us through our graduate schemes. We’ve been able to support their growth and development to the point where they contribute massively to the business and lead their own teams, which is very rewarding to see.”
Having had a stellar reputation within motorsport for decades, RML Group is being recognized more widely for its cutting edge, high-performance engineering capabilities. With contemporary takes on much loved classic cars, as well as its own innovative designs, RML Group has placed itself in pole position to lead the way in automotive innovation.