Royale RP 6

[chris bailey]

Until I can afford a B19 Chevron, I've got hold of a '71 Royale RP6. Arguably prettier than a B16, it was produced with 2-litre racing in mind. Unfortunately, nobody appears to have used one in period which means I have nowhere to race it! That is, unless anyone can turn up some evidence to the contrary. It would add some variety to the grid if nothing else, even if I have to run it with a pushrod Ford. p.s.

[Andrew Kitson]

Chris, hi mate. Which chassis is yours, did you say the Dutch one?

These are Royale records of sold RP6s from Alan, in the Royale book:
RP6/1 Malcolm West - UK
RP6/2 Bino Samdaco - Brazil
RP6/3 Bino Samdaco - Brazil
RP6/4 Bill Scott - USA
RP6/5 David Schuster - USA
RP6/6 Marc Terrior - Belgium
RP6/7 Herbert Hartge - Germany
RP6/8 Arthur Banting - Holland
RP6/9 G Morand - Switzerland

Book says designed by Bob Marston, an uprated version of the RP4 to take 2-litre engines, price new with g/box less engine £2600.
Very pretty, the nicest looking Royale(?) here seen testing at Brands in 1970.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

I've got hold of a '71 Royale RP6. Arguably prettier than a B16, it was produced with 2-litre racing in mind. Unfortunately, nobody appears to have used one in period which means I have nowhere to race it! That is, unless anyone can turn up some evidence to the contrary. It would add some variety to the grid if nothing else, even if I have to run it with a pushrod Ford. p.s.

John Tait appers to have entered a Royale RP6 in the Ford Anglia Television Trophy, Snetterton 1972, the last race of the RAC 2 litre series if that helps.

Very pretty looking car, love the 2 litre sports cars of the that era.

[Andrew Kitson]

Yes he did, but not the 'Ford' Anglia trophy, simply the 'Anglia Television' British sports car championship race. I remember that RP6 now - finished in orange I recall, but with a 1300cc motor, not 2-litre according to the entry list.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by chris bailey

even if I have to run it with a pushrod Ford

Eduardo Celidônio raced a Royale - Alfa Romeo 1600 in the 500km of interlagos 1971.This may have been an RP6, 2 did go to brazil, and if so was it the cars best result? it finished 3rd overall behind a Porsche 908 and 910.

An Alfa may be different, if not cheap option!

http://www.brazilianlists.com/1971.html

[chris bailey]

Originally Posted by Nordic

Eduardo Celidônio raced a Royale - Alfa Romeo 1600 in the 500km of interlagos 1971.This may have been an RP6, 2 did go to brazil, and if so was it the cars best result? it finished 3rd overall behind a Porsche 908 and 910.

An Alfa may be different, if not cheap option!

http://www.brazilianlists.com/1971.html

Aha! My quest bears fruit at last! Thanks for the lead Nordic. The interesting thing about RP6's was that they were never supplied with engines from the factory, unless the customer supplied one. The Alfa solution would be a good one to go with. So who knows anything else about Eduardo Celidonio and his RP6? Also, if there's a programme for the 500km de Interlagos in 1971 kicking around, it might tell me whether the race ran under an International permit?

Also, in the 12 hours de Interlagos in the same year, a Royale Ford 1600 finished 3rd. This is probably the other RP6 that was shipped out in '70. The original Royale job sheets list them with Ford 1600 engines and left-hand drive! The 12 hour race was a round of the Brazilian Sports Car Championship (CBVE), if my interpretation is correct. Finally, Bob Marston, the car's designer, is a friend from years ago. He's promised to be the de facto race engineer if I ever get the thing near a track.

[simon drabble]

Surely 12 Hrs de Interlagos is an internional meeting (and therefore enable you to get FIA papers presumably).. problem is that you would have to run 1600 against everyone else's 2000

[Nordic]

Chris, I would suggest you contact the guy that looks after the web page, his contact email can be found at the bottom of the results page, (carlos depaula).

He may be able to tell you some more about this: Divisão 4, Marcos Troncon – Royale Chevrolet (classe A) car that raced in the 500K Interlagos 1974. No idea if it was a RP6, but a chevy engine could be interesting! (Troncon was a SuperVee driver of some note in Brazil)

[chris bailey]

Thanks Nordic and Simon! A Chevy in an RP6!!? I reckon engine and car would be in two different places after the first hour. Mind you, I'll look into it. As for running 1600 against 2 litres, I don't mind. At the end of the day, this is a way of being on the grid, not winning races. Winning entails spending £70,000 plus on a B19 or Lola T210/212 with a BDG, which I don't have. Besides, I'm sure I can give some of the Gentleman Drivers a bit of a fright, if the RP6 is properly screwed together (which it will be)! Meanwhile, any more leads are more than welcome....?

[simon drabble]

You wont be able to run it in the Gentlemen Drivers as it is passed the cutoff date - you would be able to run it in the Worldsportscar Masters series (subject to FIA papers for both series), but again if you are running a 1600 you are going to be struggling to be competitive..

[Jeremy Hall]

I am led to beleive that the car sold to Hartge, no7, was used in 1971 in the European Hill Climb championship which would seem to address the International use creiterion for these cars.

[allenbrown]

"Led to believe"? I didn't think you were easily led...

[driftwood]

Cup of tea and a choclate biscuit and he is any ones!!
now jeremy can you sign my FIA papers for my 4wd tyrrell P34!

Royale RP6 where aimed at the F100 class where they not?