1978 Ralt RT1

History

OldRacingCars reports this car, chassis #RT1/78 [96], as Kevin Cogan’s car entered by Ralt American in the 1978 Labatts Formula Atlantic Championship. Cogan finished on the podium with this car at Long Beach in 1978, and had several other top five finishes that season. Cogan and the Ralt would finish 10th in the Championship that season.

In 1979 future Daytona 24 Hours, Sebring 12 Hours, and IMSA Champion, John Paul Jr., raced the Ralt for JLP Racing. The car was run with sponsorship from Hilton Hotels. Today the car wears that same Hilton Hotels livery. 

Ownership history: 

Kevin Cogan  1978 Ralt NA (works) White Labatts livery

JLP Racing 1979 Powder Blue/yellow  Hilton livery

Joe Castellano  1979-80 Powder Blue/Yellow

Steve Overton 1980-1981 

Duane McLain 1981-2 red/white livery SCCA

Bob Ericksen 1984-5 

Joe Holmes 1985-86 SCCA solo1 and SCCA 

Gerald Lieberg 1990-96 white SCCA

Ron Benadetti 1998-00 Dark Blue  never raced

Mike Agnifilo 2001-2004 Dark Blue  SVRA/HSR

Greg Lane 2004-2022 JLP livery (powder blue/yellow) 

Racing history from 1982 onward from logbook #1:

Steve Overton – St Louis,MO #22

Duane McClain – Omaha NE #12

Mid America SCCA Double Regional  7/10/82

Hallett  SCCA Regional-National   7/24/82

Brainerd SCCA Nationals 8/6/82

Bob Ericksen

? SCCA Double Regional 7/7/84

? GI Joe IMSA 7/25/84

? SCCA Regionals 4/13/85

Joseph Holmes 

Sears Point SCCA Solo I 5/27/85

Laguna Seca SCCA Regionals 8/85

Sears Point SCCA Regionals 11/2/85

? SCCA Regionals 9/14/86

Hallett SCCA Summer Sprint 10/5/86

Gerald Lieberg

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 5/4/90

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 6/6/90

Lime Rock SCCA Nationals 6/29/90

Sebring 4/93

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 7/2/93

Road Atlanta SVRA Vintage 10/21/93

Moroso VARAC Vintage 3/11/94

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 7/1/94

Mid Ohio  SCCA Regionals 7/29/94

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 8/19/94

Savanah HSR Historic 11/10/94

Sebring HSR Historic 3/3/95

Moroso SVRA Vintage 3/95

Lime Rock SCCA Regionals 4/28/95

Cover of Auto Sport (Canada) Magazine June 1978 – Cogan

Cover of SCCA National Champ program (Bridgehampton), Sept 1979

Description

The Ralt is powered by an MWE Cosworth BDA. The engine has one race weekend on it. 

The Hewland FT200 gearbox was refreshed after the last race, and has zero hours on it since. Having said that, the owner believes the gearbox could benefit from a couple of new dog rings. The pro team that maintains the car also recommends installing new front wheel bearings, and having the fuel cell upgraded. Total estimated costs for parts and labor for all of the above is $6,000.  

The car has a Traqmate GPS Data Acquisition system which will also be included in the sale.

Spares:

Set of wheels with Avon slicks

Cowl – drivers surround

Used radiator

Gear set for most North American tracks

High downforce nose with splitter

New splitter

Tub of new spares – distributor, wires, plugs timing belt fuel pressure regulator oils filter brake pads nitrogen tank regulator hubs clutch

The Ralt RT1 is probably the top, most competitive car to have in flat bottom Formula Atlantic racing. These cars are accepted at all the top FA events when they appear on the schedule, such as the Rolex Monterey Reunion, Long Beach, the Masters F1 support race at COTA and Mexico, etc. Of course they are great to run at all other historic race meetings around the world. The Ralt has been professionally maintained at a high level, and the engine and gearbox are nearly new. The car also looks great in its John Paul Jr./Hilton Hotels livery. 

This Ralt was a factory Ralt America team car, raced by up and coming IndyCar drivers Kevin Cogan, and Daytona, Sebring, Michigan 500 winner, and IMSA Champion, John Paul Jr.  This will be one of the top cars, by history, performance, and appearance, in any Historic Formula Atlantic grid.

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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Photos

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