The
Ralt RT4 is an
Open-wheel car formula racing car, designed, developed, and built by
Ralt for
Formula Atlantic (and was also occasionally raced in
Formula Two categories) in 1980. It was later converted into a closed-wheel
sports prototype and used in the revived
Can-Am series between 1982 and 1985, where it achieved only modest success. In Can-Am competition, the car achieved 1 podium finish, 1 class victory, and a best result of a 2nd-place finish.
Background
The RT4 was the car of choice in Australian Formula 1 and
Formula Mondial during the early to mid-1980s.
Roberto Moreno drove an RT4 to win the Australian Grand Prix in 1981, 1983, and the final AGP in 1984 before it became a round of the
Formula One World Championship in 1985, while
Alain Prost also drove one to victory in the 1982 Australian Grand Prix. Other F1 drivers to drive a Ralt RT4 in Australia during this period included
Jacques Laffite and Andrea de Cesaris, as well as World Champions Alan Jones,
Nelson Piquet,
Keke Rosberg, and
Niki Lauda. The RT4, generally powered by a naturally aspirated , four-cylinder Ford BDA engine which produced around , also saw John Bowe win the Australian Drivers' Championship in 1984 and 1985, while Australian Ralt importer Graham Watson used one to win the 1986 championship. The
chassis was constructed from an
aluminum monocoque, covered with a
fiberglass body. It was also very light, weighing only .
