Riley-Multimatic MkXXX
A 2017 LMP2 built by Riley and Multimatic, raced globally.
David Merrett · CC BY 2.0
The Riley-Multimatic MkXXX—also called the Mk.30 or simply the Riley Mk.30—is an LMP2 car built to the 2017 FIA/ACO regulations. It competes globally in the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship, and IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Its first race was the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where Spirit of Daytona Racing drove it to a podium finish.
Riley Technologies first announced plans for a next-generation LMP2 prototype on 22 August 2014. It was the company’s first non-Daytona Prototype sportscar design since the abandoned Riley MkXXV from 2011. On 9 July 2015, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest selected the Riley-Multimatic partnership as one of four chassis manufacturers for the 2017 regulations. The car came from a joint bid between Riley Technologies and Multimatic Motorsports for one of the four LMP2 licenses. Multimatic handled the carbon-fiber tub, bodywork, and aerodynamics, while Riley designed and built most mechanical components, including the suspension, and assembled the car. The Mk30 was shaken down in December 2016 by Spirit of Daytona Racing at Carolina Motorsports Park. On 15 June 2017, Multimatic Motorsports announced it had taken the lead role in the LMP2 program, a shift from the initial shared arrangement where Riley led commercial aspects and Multimatic focused on the DPi side. The car is known for being extremely draggy, even in its low-drag Le Mans configuration.
A DPi variant, the Mazda RT24-P, was developed for IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Prototype class. It was created with Mazda Motorsports, initially SpeedSource Race Engineering, and Multimatic. Instead of a Gibson V8, it uses a Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0 L turbo I4. Other changes from the Mk30 include revised sidepods and a different nose. The RT24-P debuted at the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours with the SpeedSource team, but was withdrawn from competition for redevelopment after the Mobil1 Sportscar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. One prototype later ran in the WeatherTech Championship with Multimatic Motorsports.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Riley Technologies and Multimatic Motorsports
- Class
- Le Mans Prototype 2 (LMP2)
- Regulations
- 2017 FIA/ACO
- Debut
- 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona
- First podium
- 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona (Spirit of Daytona Racing)
- Variants
- Mazda RT24-P (DPi)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
On 22 August 2014, Riley Technologies first laid out plans for building a next-generation prototype for the new-for-2017 global LMP2 regulations, the project being the first non-Daytona Prototype sportscar racing prototype design developed by the company since the aborted Riley MkXXV from 2011. On 9 July 2015, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest announced that the Riley-Multimatic partnership had been selected as one of the four chassis manufacturers for the new regulations. The car is a result of the joint bid between Riley Technologies and Multimatic Motorsports for one of the four licenses to build the new-for-2017 LMP2 cars. Multimatic took charge of the carbon fiber tub, vehicular bodywork and aerodynamic aspects, while Riley designed and manufactured the majority of the mechanical components, including the suspension and assembly. The car was shaken down in December 2016 by customer Spirit of Daytona Racing at Carolina Motorsports Park.
On 15 June 2017, Multimatic Motorsports revealed that it had taken the lead role in the Riley-Multimatic LMP2 programme, a departure from the initial shared lead that had Riley Technologies leading the commercial aspects and Multimatic focusing on the DPi aspect. The car has been known to be extremely draggy, even in low drag configuration at Le Mans.
Reader's Guide
The Riley-Multimatic MkXXX represents a significant collaboration between Riley Technologies and Multimatic Motorsports, one of only four manufacturers selected to build LMP2 cars for the 2017 regulations. Its debut at the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona with a podium finish for Spirit of Daytona Racing established its competitive potential. The car's development history reflects a shift in leadership, with Multimatic taking the lead role in the LMP2 programme in June 2017. A notable variant, the Mazda RT24-P, was created for IMSA's DPi regulations, replacing the Gibson V8 with a Mazda MZ-2.0T 2.0 L Turbo I4 and featuring revised sidepods and nose. The Mazda RT24-P debuted at the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours with SpeedSource Team but was withdrawn from competition for redevelopment after the Mobil1 Sportscar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park. One prototype later ran in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Multimatic Motorsports. The MkXXX's reputation for being extremely draggy, even in low drag configuration at Le Mans, is a noted characteristic.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Riley-Multimatic MkXXX?
The MkXXX (also known as the Mk.30 or Riley Mk.30) is a Le Mans Prototype 2-class endurance racer built to the 2017 FIA/ACO rule set. It was designed to compete across multiple global series, including the European Le Mans Series, Asian Le Mans Series, FIA World Endurance Championship, and IMSA's WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Who built the Riley-Multimatic MkXXX?
The car is a joint development between Riley Technologies and Multimatic Motorsports, combining Riley's chassis design heritage with Multimatic's engineering and race-development expertise.
What variants or related cars share the Riley-Multimatic MkXXX platform?
The MkXXX is closely tied to the Mazda RT24-P, which competed as a Daytona Prototype International entry in IMSA. The shared engineering between the two programs reflects the tight collaboration among Riley, Multimatic, and Mazda during that era.
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