RML added Jason Plato's BTCC drivers' title to a growing list of accolades, the silverware joining the teams' and drivers' titles the squad took away from their LMP2 campaign in the Le Mans Series, and the team still has their eyes on more honours before 2010 is over.
“There are still two more championships to fight for yet, the FIA WTCC drivers' and manufacturers' titles,” says Ray Mallock, the company's chief executive. “We head to Okyama in very similar circumstances as we did Brands with Jason – Yvan [Muller] has a 25 point gap and, whilst we're in a strong position from the front, much can happen during the race. Our approach to the final rounds will be just the same – to target the race wins and maximise on our points-scoring finishes, hopefully continuing our remarkable run of success across our projects in 2010.”
The latest triumph for the Wellingborough-based team came with Jason Plato taking his second BTCC title with a dominating performance in the first two of three races around the Brands Hatch Indy circuit on the series' final race weekend of the year. Plato also drew level with Andy Rouse for the overall number on BTCC wins – 60 – a third (21) of which he has scored in three seasons with RML having driven a SEAT Toledo with the team 2004 as well as recent Chevrolet powered campaigns.
For the team too it was another successful year in a 15 year Touring Car career, adding a title with the Chevrolet Cruze to past BTCC successes with Vauxhall and Nissan machinery.
“This is a tremendous team achievement,” Mallock assesses his team's domestic season. “We entered the series with the package to beat on the grid in Jason, Alex and the Cruze and our aim from the start was to take the championship win in partnership with Chevrolet. It gives me, and all involved, great pleasure to know that we have accomplished our target and to do so at the final race meeting of the year with two dominant race victories is the perfect way to end the season.”
RML will find out if they can complete their season on a high with two races remaining in the WTCC. First at Okayama, Japan before the traditional finale at Macau on November 21. RML driver Muller has a 25 point lead over BMW's Andy Priaulx with the team enjoys a 45 point margin over SEAT Customers Technology.
