History

Although the name JRM is relatively new in motorsport, it has quickly established itself as a leading force in racing, rallying and a variety of other competitive disciplines.

Some of the history behind the company goes back nearly two decades when, towards the end of 2008, British entrepreneur James Rumsey acquired Chesterfield-based ADR Motorsport, which had been building and preparing competition cars for almost 20 years.

In 2004, the company was contracted by Mitsubishi Motors UK to run its works rally team. This considerable project saw it provide a complete service, which included: engine, transmission and chassis development, full car-builds, team management and on-event technical support. The programme culminated with back-to-back victories in the British Rally Championship, securing the Teams’ and Drivers’ titles in both 2007 and 2008.

JRM continued its competitive participation at a pace, with the team running the first of its Group N Mitsubishi Evolution Xs in 2009 for Evolution Challenge Champion David Bogie. Later in the season, the young Scot was joined by the experienced Welshman Gwyndaf Evans in a brand-new Evo X and suddenly, JRM was well and truly on the map as a major contender in UK rallying.

However, by far the most significant developments in the company’s history have taken place since the end of 2009. The first major step was the opening of a purpose-built state-of-the-art, 50,000 square-feet motorsport technical centre in Rye, East Sussex, where almost any conceivable automotive task can be carried out.

Facilities include: -

• Superflow 4WD chassis dynamometer
• Superflow engine dynamometer
• Blackhawk chassis jig
• Fully equipped bodyshop
• Hunter alignment system
• Engine and transmission clean rooms with Superflow flow-bench facilities
• CAD/CAM design, CNC machine shop with full 5 axis machine operation capabilities, CMM quality control systems
• Full automotive workshop facilities

Then, with the premises and resources in place, the company formed an association with NISMO (Nissan Motorsports International Co. Ltd.) and purchased two 600bhp Nissan GT-Rs in order to contest the 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship.

This major global series involves ten races in ten different countries and, in only the second round, the team – branded as Sumo Power GT - claimed its very first victory. Since then it has gone on to score further successes, multiple podium positions and win the Tourist Trophy, the longest-standing award in motorsport. For 2011, JRM will run an additional two Nissan GT-Rs: two as Sumo Power GT and two as JRM Racing.

Adding to its international racing programme, 2010 also saw JRM commit to a full season in the British Rally Championship. With Gwyndaf back behind the wheel, the team ran at the front of the field on every event, whether on asphalt or gravel and scored victories on both surfaces. The season concluded with a first and second place finish on the final round in Yorkshire, this impressive result securing JRM the British Teams’ title.

To further develop and promote its cars, JRM has also invited a number of well-respected overseas drivers to compete in selected high-profile events around Europe, with further front-running performances and victories being achieved in the company’s Group N cars. Therefore, JRM can claim that it has scored outright international status event wins on gravel, asphalt and snow!

With more-and-more opportunities being generated, the rally team has expanded its operations by moving into larger premises at Daventry, Northamptonshire. It is also embarking on a series of high-profile campaigns during the season, both in the UK and overseas.

This increased activity and development of it operations allow JRM to take a significant step towards its ultimate aim: to be the best provider of technical and engineering services for production-based competition cars in Europe.