One of the most synonymous names in British motorsport is set to enter FIA Formula E, and it may well save an existing team from missing-out on a new powertrain deal.
Lola Cars is set to make Formula E its first venture back into motorsport after a period of dormancy following bankruptcy and closure in 2012. British businessman and former racing driver, Till Bechtolsheimer, has acquired the name and the remaining assets of the company and has, according to a report by The Race, taken delivery of a GEN3 test car following registering as an official Formula E manufacturer and will enter as a powertrain supplier for another team.
This leaves the door open for ABT Cupra, who are on the search for new supplier, having decided to end its partnership with Mahindra at the end of the season. It is understood that the team have been discussing deals with existing manufacturers within FE, but have so far failed to reach an agreement with any. It now seems that Lola will now be the team’s best bet for remaining on the grid.
Lola’s presence within FE has already begun, with former DS Techeetah boss Mark Preston representing them in Formula E Teams and Manufacturers Association meetings.
Who are Lola?
Founded in 1958 by Eric Broadley, Lola produced chassis for a plethora of racing series from junior formulae to rally, but its primary successes came in America, with much of the IndyCar/CART teams in the 1980s and 1990s using Lola chassis.
Formula 1 was also a platform in which Lola had significant interest, building cars for teams including Embassy Hill, Team Haas [no connection to the current Haas outfit] and Larrousse. Broadley decided to enter F1 as a standalone works team in 1994, with a prototype car being tested over the next year by Scottish driver Allan McNish.
Its initial plan was to enter F1 in 1998 with its own in-house-built engine, but pressure from title sponsor MasterCard meant the entry was brought forward by one year. The car was hastily designed with technology largely used for its Indy projects, powered by an out of date Ford V8, and did not see a test track nor even a wind tunnel when it arrived in Australia for round one. Unsurprisingly, the car was uncompetitive, lapping in excess of nine seconds off the pace, with drivers Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset failing to qualify. MasterCard would pull the plug on its sponsorship before the second race in Brazil, and Lola pulled-out of F1, and required a buyout from Irish businessman Martin Birrane to save itself from debts of around £6 million it incurred through its F1 attempt.
Birrane managed to save the brand, and Lola continued to produce cars in various competitions – including endurance racing – as well as flirting with the idea of re-entering F1 for the 2010 season. However, further financial difficulties left Lola in administration, and ceased trading in 2012. Its second revival with Bechtolsheimer is ensuring such a prestigious name is back in top class motor racing again.
