The project of Lola Cars in Formula E was announced this Thursday, with Yamaha as its partner. The Japanese manufacturer is mainly associated with the motorcycle industry and competition, but also has a history in four-wheel racing.
The partnership with the British is ‘to develop and provide a power unit’ for the electric single-seater championship, with Yamaha’s image clearly visible in the conceptual livery of the car now revealed.
Previously, Yamaha was actively involved in Formula 1, so this is a return to the big stages of motorsport. It debuted as an engine manufacturer in 1989 and, after a hiatus, returned between 1991 and 1997. It supplied historic teams like Brabham, Jordan, and Tyrrell. However, the results were always very modest – there were only two podiums.
In 1989, Yamaha debuted with Zakspeed and in the only race for which the team qualified, Bernd Schneider retired. The results were better on the return in 1991 with Motor Racing Developments (Brabham), but still there were many retirements and only two points finishes – including a top five.
A year later, Jordan partnered with Yamaha, and the results were poor: retirements were the most common outcome, but even so, Stefano Modena still managed to score a point by finishing sixth in the Australian GP that ended the season.
From 1993 to 1996, Tyrrel used Yamaha engines. The 1993 season was one of the least successful, ending without points, but the following year was the best: four top fives plus Mark Blundell’s podium in Spain, along with a sixth place. In total, seventh place in the Constructors’ World Championship with 13 points. Results that were not replicated in 1995 and 1996, when Mika Salo passed through Tyrrel’s ranks – who, years later, would have a brief stint at Ferrari replacing Michael Schumacher when he was injured in 1999. The last year of Yamaha in F1 was in 1997, with Arrows. Damon Hill, who had just become champion a year before, unexpectedly embraced this project. And it was the British driver who almost gave Yamaha its only victory: he led the Hungarian GP comfortably until, towards the end, he suffered a breakdown. He still crossed the finish line, but in a bitter second place – which, nevertheless, was the best result ever for a Yamaha engine in the premier category.
