Before the Tokyo E-Prix, Lola’s Motorsport Director, Mark Preston, revealed that Lola will be making a comeback to elite motorsport in Formula E. It was confirmed on Thursday that Lola will be providing powertrains for ABT next season. Preston, who has extensive experience in Formula 1 and Formula E, considers the addition of Lola to his resume as a significant achievement, alongside other prestigious names like McLaren and Arrows, for which he has worked in the past.
“It’s a brand with a rich history, Lola, which is fantastic,” he expressed.
“When I arrived from Australia in 1996, I had 10 job interviews, one of which was with Lola, another with McLaren, and one with Arrows. I ended up working for Arrows, but interestingly, I almost joined Lola again in 2008. So, third time’s the charm – it’s absolutely fabulous.”
The decision to enter Formula E for Lola’s second rebirth, after its second bankruptcy 12 years ago, is a deliberate choice closely aligned with the values of its new owner, Till Bechtolsheimer. Bechtolsheimer is eager to promote a sustainability platform for the brand, and, as Preston explains, entering Formula E is a logical choice.
“Till has a clear plan to focus on three pillars of motorsport.
“So, the first is electrification, the second is hydrogen, and the third is sustainable fuels and materials. Considering that Formula E is the World Championship of electric cars, it represents the highest level of electrification. Therefore, it is the most suitable place for Lola to be as part of its rebirth in the electrification pillar.”
“We also anticipate that the majority of motorsport in the future will incorporate some form of electrification – F1 aims for 50% electrification by 2026, and other series like WEC are also embracing electrification. So, it makes sense to start here as the electrified pillar and then expand into other areas.”
Formula E and its fans, who have a long-standing interest in motorsport, are understandably excited to see Lola join the championship. The Lola name has been associated with motorsport for over 60 years and has had success in various racing championships. Preston believes that the strong brand recognition of Lola will greatly benefit the series.
“As you can see by the enthusiastic response to the announcement in Japan, Lola is quite famous there due to its involvement in the F3000 series and years of racing. It is also known in the USA and worldwide. So, having such a reputable brand in Formula E is important.”
The recognition they receive is a result of the various championships they have participated in, so naturally there will be hope and expectations for the Formula E project. Preston acknowledges this and is ambitious.
“Our goal is to be at the forefront. It may take some time to fully establish ourselves, but we have a highly experienced team and, on paper, we have all the necessary components.
“For me, as long as we perform well in the first season and show improvement, we will be satisfied. Formula E is a highly competitive series that changes from weekend to weekend, so I hope we can compete for positions in the early years.”
Instead of entering Formula E as a team, Lola chose to enter as a manufacturer and will provide their powertrains to ABT. Discussions between the two parties have been ongoing for some time, and ABT Cupra chose Lola over Mahindra.
“So, we’ve known ABT for a long time and Thomas [Beirmaier, CEO of ABT] mentioned that we started talking in London last year. Our commercial director even joked that it was a fairy tale story! We’ve been in discussions for a while, and as time passed, it made sense for us to work together.”
It’s important to note that Lola’s entry into Formula E is in collaboration with Yamaha, who, like Lola, is returning to high-level motorsport after a hiatus. Preston’s connections made this collaboration possible.
“I’ve been involved in various projects in Japan, like Super Aguri and Bridgestone, and Arrows had significant connections in Japan due to Bridgestone and TWR [Tom Walkinshaw Racing]. Over the years, I’ve met many people in Japan and started talking to our now colleagues at Yamaha. I believe we brought them to New York about five years ago to introduce them to Formula E, and some of them showed interest.”
“It took time to put everything together over the years.”
“We’ve been working together on the powertrain for about 18 months.”
Reports emerged just before Lola’s official entry announcement that they had already received a GEN3 Evo car and immediately started working on it. With Lola now present in ABT’s garage during races, it’s clear that work is already underway, and Preston intends to take the car to the test track soon.
“Our goal is to be on the test track in June. This needs to happen soon for us to be prepared.”
“As a manufacturer, we have 12 test days, and this doesn’t need to be done before the combined test, which usually takes place in November. So, we will participate in the combined test with everyone else. Before that, there will be test days leading up to it, of course.”
With the established bases and its presence confirmed, Lola’s entry into Formula E is ready to shake up the category and bring a fresh addition that will help the sport expand to new markets and generate more interest.
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