The transformation of RAM Racing, owned by Mike Ralph and John Macdonald, into a constructor continued into the 1984 season. Backed by sponsorship from Skoal Bandit and the signing of two promising drivers, British racer Jonathan Palmer and Frenchman Philippe Alliot, the British team entered the World Championship with renewed energy and the new RAM 02 car, which on paper looked ready to face its rivals.
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| RAM 02, Jonathan Palmer Brands Hatch, British GP 1984 |
Ralph and Macdonald secured a deal with Brian Hart for turbocharged 415T L4 engines, also used by Toleman. This year, Hart's engines were equipped with new Holset turbochargers, an English company owned by American firm Cummins, replacing the problematic Garrett units.
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| RAM 02, Jonathan Palmer Brands Hatch, British GP 1984 |
Despite good intentions, financial struggles continued for the small British outfit. The team entered the season with two different cars. Palmer drove the older chassis, renamed 01B and retrofitted with the Hart turbo engine, for the first two races. Alliot began the season in the newly built RAM 02, designed from scratch by Dave Kelly and also fitted with the Hart 415T turbo. A second 02 chassis was only ready by late spring and handed to Palmer for the Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder. New Zealander Mike Thackwell also drove the 02 in Canada, replacing Palmer, but retired after a few laps due to turbo failure.
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| RAM 02, Jonathan Palmer Brands Hatch, British GP 1984 |
Visually, the two cars looked almost identical, but the 02 had been designed specifically for the Hart turbo, while the 01 was only updated aerodynamically without changes to its mechanics or chassis. The 02 was a simple car with long sidepods to house larger radiators required by the turbo engine, but its aerodynamic design was outdated, lacking the rear taper needed for a Coandă effect to make up for the lack of ground effect.
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| RAM 02, Jonathan Palmer Dijon-Prenois, French GP 1984 |
Performance fell well short of expectations, and the team consistently ran at the back of the field. Despite regularly qualifying, the team never scored points. The best result came from Palmer in the older 01, finishing eighth in the season-opening Brazilian Grand Prix. The 02 managed three ninth-place finishes, all with Palmer at the wheel.
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