Lola Cars
British racing-car manufacturer and motorsport engineering brand.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Lola Cars is a British racing-car manufacturer and motorsport engineering brand founded in 1958 by Eric Broadley in Bromley, England. It became one of the longest-established and most prolific independent race-car constructors, producing chassis for single-seater, sports-prototype and endurance-racing categories. Rather than concentrating on a single championship, Lola developed cars for a broad range of regulations and customer teams, including Formula Junior, Formula 3, Formula 2, Formula 1, Formula 5000, Can-Am, IMSA GTP, Group C, Le Mans-style prototypes and other professional racing series. The company’s early identity was established through compact front-engined sports cars and single-seaters. Broadley’s Ford V8-powered Lola Mk.6 sports coupe attracted Ford’s interest and contributed design ideas that were later incorporated into the Ford GT40 project. Lola subsequently developed the T70 and related sports cars, which achieved international visibility in the World Championship for Makes and Can-Am. During the 1970s, the company supplied Group 5 and Group 6 sports-racing cars and became closely associated with Formula 5000-derived machinery, including cars that helped dominate the revived Can-Am series. In the 1980s and early 1990s, Lola expanded its engineering work in closed-cockpit sports prototypes. The T600 and T610 families competed in IMSA GTP and related categories with engines from several manufacturers, while later projects supported Nissan, Chevrolet and other manufacturer-backed programmes. Lola also continued to supply customer single-seaters, becoming a major chassis provider in junior and professional formulas. Its Formula 1 history included the 1962 Bowmaker-Yeoman programme, technical assistance to Honda’s 1967 RA300 project, the Embassy Hill cars of the mid-1970s, the Haas Lola effort in 1985–1986, and the Larrousse and Scuderia Italia programmes. The company’s first full works Formula 1 entry, the MasterCard Lola project in 1997, was commercially unsuccessful and contributed to severe financial distress. Following the 1997 crisis, Martin Birrane acquired Lola. The business continued to develop customer sports cars and prototypes, including the B98/10, B2K/10, MG-Lola EX257, B05/40, B06/10, B07/10, B08/60 and B08/80. Lola cars secured important class results at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the American Le Mans Series, particularly in LMP2, despite facing stronger factory-supported competitors in top-level prototype categories. Lola also developed the B11/40 for the 2011 LMP2 regulations and supplied chassis later used by Mazda in prototype competition. Lola entered financial administration in 2012. Lola Cars International ceased trading on 5 October 2012 after administrators failed to find a suitable buyer, and the remaining employees were laid off. Some assets, intellectual property and name rights were subsequently acquired or licensed by Multimatic and The Carl A. Haas Automotive Company. The Lola brand was revived after Till Bechtolsheimer acquired its trademarks, intellectual property and Lola Technical Centre, including its wind tunnel, in June 2022. The new ownership announced an intention to return the marque to active motorsport engineering. Lola re-entered the international racing scene in 2024 through a technical partnership with Yamaha in the Formula E World Championship, contributing as an entrant and powertrain supplier. In October 2024, it acquired Paceteq, an automotive data-technology and software company, as part of its broader development strategy.
History
Lola Cars was established in 1958 by Eric Broadley in Bromley, England. Its first products were small front-engined sports cars, followed by Formula Junior and other single-seater designs. The company quickly developed a reputation as an adaptable constructor able to respond to changing technical rules and customer requirements. Broadley’s Lola Mk.6 coupe, powered by a Ford V8, attracted Ford Motor Company’s attention. Ford funded a period in which Broadley’s ideas were combined with work by Roy Lunn, contributing to the development path that produced the Ford GT40. Broadley later resumed independent development and retained the Slough factory associated with Lola. The T70 and its successors became especially important products, competing successfully in international sports-car racing and Can-Am. During the 1960s Lola also supplied cars for Formula Junior, Formula 3, Formula 2 and Formula 1. Its first Formula 1 involvement came in 1962, when it supplied Mk4 cars to Reg Parnell’s Bowmaker-Yeoman team. John Surtees achieved pole position in one of the cars at its first World Championship event. Lola later assisted Honda with its RA300 and RA301 Formula 1 cars; the RA300 used the basis of a Lola Indianapolis monocoque and won the 1967 Italian Grand Prix with John Surtees. Lola-built BMW Formula 2 cars and other customer projects broadened the company’s competition portfolio. The company continued to produce sports-racing cars in the 1970s, including Group 5 and Group 6 designs. It also became closely associated with Formula 5000 machinery and helped power the revival of Can-Am through cars based on that category’s technology. In Formula 1, Lola supplied cars for Graham Hill’s Embassy-backed team. The Lola T370 evolved into the Hill GH1, while the planned GH2 was never raced after Hill, driver Tony Brise and several team members died in an aircraft accident in November 1975. Lola’s 1980s work included the T600 and T610 IMSA GTP cars, which used engines from Cosworth, Mazda, Chevrolet and other suppliers. The brand also supported manufacturer programmes in Group C and GTP, including projects linked to Nissan and Chevrolet. Its association with Formula 1 continued through the Haas Lola project in 1985 and 1986. That programme had substantial commercial backing and experienced personnel but failed to achieve the anticipated results and ended after the 1986 season. Lola later supplied chassis to Larrousse and Scuderia Italia, among others. The 1990s brought both continued technical activity and significant financial pressure. Lola produced customer and manufacturer-related designs, but its first full works Formula 1 effort, the 1997 MasterCard Lola project, collapsed rapidly. The failure caused severe financial damage. Martin Birrane acquired Lola in 1997, and the company subsequently concentrated heavily on customer sports-prototype programmes and other specialist racing categories. In the late 1990s and 2000s, Lola developed Le Mans-style cars such as the B98/10 and B2K/10, followed by the MG-Lola EX257 and related derivatives. The B05/40 earned LMP2 class victories at Le Mans in 2005 and 2006 with Ray Mallock Limited and achieved strong American Le Mans Series results with Intersport Racing. Lola also produced LMP1 cars including the B06/10 and B07/10, and closed-cockpit prototypes such as the B08/60 and B08/80. In 2007, the company became involved with a Grand-Am Daytona Prototype franchise in association with Tracy Krohn. Lola announced the B11/40 for the revised 2011 LMP2 regulations, using a carbon-fibre monocoque and removable rear bodywork. However, the company entered financial administration in May 2012 and ceased trading on 5 October 2012. Its assets and intellectual property were divided or licensed, with Multimatic and The Carl A. Haas Automotive Company among the parties associated with the post-closure assets. The brand was revived when Till Bechtolsheimer acquired Lola’s trademarks, intellectual property and technical centre in June 2022. The new owner stated an intention to bring Lola back to active motorsport within a relatively short period. In 2024, Lola re-entered the Formula E World Championship as an entrant and powertrain supplier through a technical partnership with Yamaha. The same year, it acquired Paceteq, extending its renewed business activity into automotive data technology and software.
- 2024
Lola returns to Formula E
[1]Lola resumes active motorsport involvement as an entrant and powertrain supplier in partnership with Yamaha.
- 2024
Paceteq acquisition
[1]Lola acquires Paceteq to accelerate development in automotive data technology and software.
- 2022
Brand and technical centre are acquired by Till Bechtolsheimer
[1]The acquisition includes Lola’s brand, trademarks, intellectual property and wind-tunnel-equipped technical centre.
- 2012
Lola ceases operations
[1]After entering administration, Lola Cars International ceases trading on 5 October.
- 2006
Second consecutive Le Mans LMP2 class victory
[1]The B05/40 again takes LMP2 class honours at Le Mans and also records strong American Le Mans Series results.
- 2005
Lola B05/40 wins Le Mans LMP2 class
[1]The B05/40 achieves an LMP2 class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Ray Mallock Limited.
- 1997
Martin Birrane acquires Lola
[1]Following the failed MasterCard Lola Formula 1 project, Martin Birrane acquires the business.
- 1967
Honda-Lola collaboration wins at Monza
[1]The Lola-assisted Honda RA300 wins the Italian Grand Prix with John Surtees.
- 1962
First Formula 1 World Championship involvement
[1]Lola supplies Mk4 cars to Reg Parnell’s Bowmaker-Yeoman team, with John Surtees taking pole position at the team’s first World Championship race.
- 1958
Lola Cars is founded
[1]Eric Broadley establishes Lola Cars in Bromley, England, initially producing small sports cars.
Products and positioning
An independent, technically versatile British race-car constructor serving professional teams, manufacturers and customer racing programmes across multiple categories.
Sports racing car
Lola T70
The T70 was Lola’s best-known sports-racing family of the 1960s and early 1970s. Developed after the Lola Mk.6, it used powerful engines and a lightweight competition-oriented chassis. T70 variants competed internationally in sports-car racing, including the World Championship for Makes and Can-Am. Lola later announced a new production batch built to original specifications for historic competition.
IMSA GTP sports prototype · 1980
Lola T600/T610
Introduced in the early 1980s, the T600 and T610 represented Lola’s move into advanced closed-cockpit prototype racing. The cars competed in IMSA GTP and related events with a variety of powerplants, including Cosworth, Mazda and Chevrolet engines, as well as experimental composite-engine technology. Derivatives achieved useful results in North American and international prototype competition.
LMP675 endurance prototype · 2001
MG-Lola EX257
Built for MG’s LMP675 programme, the EX257 used a two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder AER engine and was entered by the works team at Le Mans. Private entrants also raced related versions under the Lola B01/60 designation. The platform later developed into additional customer LMP1 and LMP2 applications.
LMP2 endurance prototype · 2005
Lola B05/40
The B05/40 was a major LMP2 customer prototype introduced in 2005. It won the LMP2 class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2005 and 2006 with Ray Mallock Limited and also achieved American Le Mans Series class victories with Intersport Racing. Updates allowed the chassis to accommodate newer Acura and Mazda-related powertrain programmes.
LMP1 endurance prototype · 2006
Lola B06/10 and B07/10
The B06/10 and B07/10 were Lola’s LMP1 challengers for customer teams in the American Le Mans Series, Le Mans Series and 24 Hours of Le Mans. The cars were raced by teams including Dyson Racing, Chamberlain-Synergy Racing, Charouz Racing and Swiss Spirit, with later versions supporting different engine installations.
Closed-cockpit Le Mans prototypes · 2008
Lola B08/60 and B08/80
Lola introduced the B08/60 and B08/80 in 2008 as closed-cockpit prototypes for the LMP1 and LMP2 categories. The B08/60 was associated with Charouz Racing and Prodrive and used an Aston Martin V12, while the B08/80 was raced by Sebah Racing and Speedy Racing in LMP2 competition.
LMP2 endurance prototype · 2010
Lola B11/40
The B11/40 was announced for the 2011 LMP2 regulations. It was designed around a carbon-fibre open monocoque, an all-carbon body and removable rear bodywork incorporating a safety fin. The programme was announced shortly before Lola entered financial administration and did not develop into a sustained factory operation.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Formula E return with Yamaha
Global · Formula E
The revived Lola brand returned to international motorsport through a technical partnership with Yamaha, combining Lola’s engineering role with Formula E competition.
Outcome. Lola became an entrant and powertrain supplier in the Formula E World Championship.
- 2005LMP2 customer-racing programme
Europe · North America · Endurance racing
Lola promoted the B05/40 as a customer LMP2 platform for professional teams competing in Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series.
Outcome. The platform won the LMP2 class at Le Mans in 2005 and 2006 and recorded multiple American Le Mans Series class wins.
- 1967Honda RA300 Formula 1 collaboration
Formula 1 · Europe
Lola assisted Honda and John Surtees by providing the basis for the RA300, adapting a Lola Indianapolis monocoque to create a lighter and more competitive Honda-engined Formula 1 car.
Outcome. The car won the 1967 Italian Grand Prix.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquisition of PaceteqM&ABackground
The revived Lola sought to expand its technical capabilities beyond conventional race-car construction.
Action taken
Lola acquired Paceteq, an automotive data-technology and software company.
Aftermath
The transaction was presented as part of Lola’s effort to accelerate development and combine motorsport engineering with data technology.
2022
Acquisition and revival of LolaM&ABackground
Following the earlier closure and fragmented ownership of assets, Till Bechtolsheimer sought to restore Lola as an active engineering brand.
Action taken
Bechtolsheimer acquired the Lola brand, trademarks, intellectual property and Lola Technical Centre.
Aftermath
The revived company pursued a return to motorsport, culminating in its Formula E involvement in 2024.
2012
Cessation of tradingOtherBackground
Lola entered financial administration in May 2012 and administrators were unable to identify a suitable buyer for the operating company.
Action taken
Lola Cars International ceased trading on 5 October 2012.
Aftermath
The remaining employees were laid off, while selected assets, intellectual property and name rights were acquired or licensed by other parties.
1997
Launch of a full works Formula 1 programmeStrategyBackground
Lola had traditionally focused on supplying cars to other entrants rather than running a full factory Formula 1 team.
Action taken
The company entered Formula 1 under the MasterCard Lola project.
Aftermath
The project was unsuccessful and contributed directly to Lola’s financial collapse and subsequent acquisition by Martin Birrane.
Recent events
- 2024
Lola returns to Formula E with Yamaha partnership[1]
Product launch
Lola returned to active international motorsport through Formula E, acting as an entrant and powertrain supplier in a technical partnership with Yamaha.
- 2024
Lola acquires Paceteq[1]
M&A
Lola acquired Paceteq, an automotive data-technology and software company, to support its renewed development activities.
- 2022
Till Bechtolsheimer acquires Lola brand and technical assets[1]
M&A
Till Bechtolsheimer acquired Lola’s brand, trademarks, intellectual property and Lola Technical Centre, including its wind tunnel, with plans to revive the business.
- 2012
Lola Cars enters financial administration[1]
Bankruptcy
Lola Cars entered financial administration amid financial difficulties, placing the company’s future and its ongoing racing programmes in doubt.
- 2012
Lola Cars ceases trading[1]
Bankruptcy
The administrator reported that no suitable buyer had been found, and Lola Cars International ceased trading on 5 October 2012.
- 2012
Lola assets acquired by Multimatic and Carl A. Haas Automotive[1]
M&A
Parts of Lola’s assets were acquired by Multimatic and The Carl A. Haas Automotive Company, including arrangements concerning use of the Lola name and intellectual property.
Sources1 sources
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