RML Secures ELMS GTS Championship in Vallelunga, Italy with Class Win and 2nd Place Overall

The RML (Ray Mallock Ltd) Saleen S7R secured the GTS victory today in the final round of the ELMS (European Le Mans Series) at Vallelunga, Italy and with it the Drivers Championship for Ian McKellar Jnr, the Manufacturers title for Saleen Inc and the Teams Championship for RML.

Ian McKellar started the race from pole for the class. As the lights turned green he took the car into a comfortable lead, ahead of Franz Konrad's brand new Saleen S7R. The leading Panoz of Dean and Formato pitting at approximately 50 minutes left RML leading the race overall for four laps, earning an extra point for Ian McKellar. 

Both Saleens pitted together just after the hour, with RML electing to change tyres and drivers and refuel whilst the Konrad team kept its first stint tyres and driver resulting in a faster pitstop and them taking the class lead.  Unfortunately for the Konrad team this risky strategy didn't pay off as reduced grip from the tyres caused Konrad to spin off and relinquish the lead to RML's Chris Goodwin.

The RML Saleen maintained this lead until the chequered flag.

23 year old Ian McKellar has been the backbone of the drivers for RML, competing in all five events and gaining four wins.  Bruno Lambert was part of the winning team at four of the rounds, winning three of the races and Chris Goodwin drove the RML Saleen in two events, winning on both occasions.

RML boss, Ray Mallock said:

"This is a great achievement for the RML team, the Saleen S7 programme and our drivers.  This is the first sportscar championship win for RML in Europe which has been managed superbly by Phil Barker and made all the more gratifying by the part we have played in the car's development as the technical partner to Saleen Inc. 

Considering that the car made its racing debut less than 12 months ago at Laguna Seca, it is a testimony to everyone involved at RML and Saleen that the car has won this championship in its first season. Given how the cars are performing in America and Spain we expect to see the number of championship wins increase before the end of the year. 

I would like to thank the drivers who have done an incredibly professional job for the team throughout the season.

I would also like to recognise the contribution made by RML's sponsors Scania Trucks, PickUp!,  Big D - 'fifth wheels & landing legs', Redbull Construction, and Cranium - 'the game for your whole brain', as well as the tremendous support given by our official suppliers who made this programme possible, Dunlop, Timken, Hella, OZ Racing, Brembo, Goodridge, Freestyle, Motec, Koni, and Frontstep."

If you have any enquiries about this press release or would like to have print quality images of the race and the RML team, please call or email Duncan Laycock duncanl@rmlmallock.co.uk.

RML
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Web: www.rmlmallock.co.uk