Richard Lloyd Racing (RLR), originally named GTi Engineering, was a British auto racing team created in 1977 by driver Richard Lloyd. Originally named for the Volkswagen Golf GTIs 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 956s 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.
Racing history
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 Golf, 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.
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 Rouse 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 prototypes 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 C 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.