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2 clusters · 8 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

History of Lola Cars in motorsport

Overview

Lola Cars, founded in 1958 by Eric Broadley, has a long history as a manufacturer of competition chassis for various racing series, including Formula Junior, Formula 3, and IndyCar. The company achieved notable milestones such as a 1966 Indianapolis 500 victory and a 1967 collaboration with Honda that produced the ‘Hondola’.

However, the firm’s involvement in Formula 1 has been characterized by significant struggles. While providing chassis for teams like Larrousse and Scuderia Italia, many of these efforts faced technical issues such as excessive weight and poor maneuverability. A specific attempt to field its own F1 team at the start of the 1997 season resulted in financial ruin and the collapse of its F1 ambitions, reportedly due to pressure from a title sponsor.

In contrast to these historical Formula 1 difficulties, the company has seen more recent success in Formula E, including a victory by Lucas Di Grassi in Shanghai.

Entities

Honda · Formula E · Lola Cars · Mastercard · Graham Hill

Timeline

  1. [SPORTS] 6 sources
    Lola Cars: The history and F1 legacy of Eric Broadley’s racing firm

    A look at the history of Lola Cars, from its success in IndyCar and Formula 3 to its challenging and inconsistent legacy in Formula 1 racing.

  2. [SPORTS] 2 sources
    Lola motorsport history: From Formula E success to 1997 F1 failure

    A retrospective on Lola's motorsport history highlights its current Formula E success against the backdrop of its disastrous and financially ruinous 1997 attempt to field a Formula 1 team.

Sources

estrepublicain.fr · intensemans.fr · ledauphine.com · lejsl.com · leprogres.fr · motorsportweek.com · republicain-lorrain.fr · vosgesmatin.fr