In a recent development, Lola Cars has announced its entry into the FIA Formula E World Championship as a manufacturer starting from Season 11. This move is part of a long-term technical partnership with Yamaha, marking Lola’s return to motorsport after being relaunched by businessman and former racing driver Till Bechtolsheimer in 2022. Lola’s focus in motorsport will revolve around sustainable practices, including electrification, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels and materials.
Under the 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 accompany the announcement, Lola has released a concept livery rendering of a current GEN3 car, named the “T-001”.
Leading the motorsport division of Lola is Mark Preston, former TS Techeetah Team Principal. Preston expressed his excitement about the entry into Formula E, highlighting the opportunity for technological advancement. Lola’s expertise in chassis and aerodynamic design will be leveraged to create an electrified platform with a software focus, aligning with the company’s broader plans to shape the future of motorsport technology.
CEO Bechtolsheimer expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with Yamaha, emphasizing the significance of being chosen by such an innovative OEM. He sees the 350 kW electric powertrain, which forms the foundation of Formula E, as a pivotal technology with potential applications in various high-level international motorsport disciplines in the years to come.
Heiji Maruyama, the Managing Executive Officer and Director of Yamaha, stated that Yamaha Motor Company is expediting the research and development of diverse technologies that contribute to sustainability. As the technical partner, they aspire to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through participating in the top-tier electric racing competition, Formula E. Furthermore, they express their delight and honor in forming a partnership with Lola, as they both share a new philosophy of sustainable motorsport.
Lola, a renowned motorsport brand founded in 1958, sees this collaboration as the initial step in their endeavor to regain their position as a leading design and engineering group in the motorsport industry. With an impressive track record of nearly 5000 race cars across 400 different model types and triumphs in various categories such as Le Mans and IndyCar, their decision to choose Formula E as their primary championship following their relaunch is another testament to the series’ growing prominence.