Lola Cars announces its entry into the FIA World Formula E Championship as a manufacturer starting from Season 11. This decision is part of a long-term technical partnership with Yamaha, marking Lola’s return to motorsport after being relaunched by entrepreneur and former racing driver Till Bechtolsheimer in 2022. Lola’s focus in motorsport will be on sustainable practices, including electrification, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels and materials.
In collaboration with Yamaha, Lola will work together with the Japanese company to develop a powertrain that will be supplied to an existing team for the upcoming GEN3 Evo era of the series. To coincide with the announcement, Lola has unveiled a paint concept for a current GEN3 car, called “T-001.”
Leading Lola’s motorsport division is Mark Preston, former team principal of TS Techeetah. Preston expressed his excitement about entering Formula E, highlighting the opportunity for technological advancement. Lola’s expertise in chassis design and aerodynamics will be leveraged to create an electrified platform with a focus on software, aligning with the company’s broader plans to shape the future of automotive technology.
CEO Bechtolsheimer expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Yamaha, emphasizing the importance of being chosen by such an innovative OEM. He sees the 350 kW electric powertrain, which forms the basis of Formula E, as a key technology with potential applications in various high-level international motorsport disciplines in the coming years.
Heiji Maruyama, Executive Director and Director of Yamaha, stated that Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. As a technical partner, they aim to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through participation in the high-level electric racing competition, Formula E. Additionally, they express their satisfaction and honor in forming a partnership with Lola, as both share a new philosophy of sustainable motorsport.
Lola, a renowned motorsport brand founded in 1958, sees this collaboration as the first step in their effort to regain their position as a leading group in design and engineering in the automotive industry. With an impressive track record of nearly 5000 racing cars in 400 different models and victories in various categories such as Le Mans and IndyCar, their decision to choose Formula E as their main championship after the relaunch is further proof of the growing importance of the series.
