Historic manufacturer announce return to motorsport

It has been confirmed that Lola are making a sensational return to motorsport as a Formula E powertrain supplier, starting next season which begins towards the end of 2024.

The historic British manufacturer has formed a multi-year technical partnership with Yamaha, who are best known in the racing world for being one of the most successful manufacturers in MotoGP history.

Staggeringly, Lola's motorsport director is Mark Preston, formerly DS Techeetah's team principal – one of the most successful team's in Formula E history.

“We are thrilled to confirm our entry in Formula E," said Preston. "For us, this is more than just an opportunity to return Lola to the track, it’s also a fantastic platform for technological development.

“Lola Cars has a decorated history of success in chassis and aerodynamic design. This project will allow us to create a unique electrified platform with a software focus at its core to provide a basis for Lola’s wider plans in defining the future of motorsport technology.

"The partnership is the first of several major projects planned to re-establish the British company as an industry leader in sustainable engineering and motorsport, strategically focusing on three areas of electrification, hydrogen and sustainable fuels and materials."

'Incredibly excited'

In Lola's history, they have competed in the likes of F1, IndyCar – they won three Indy500's – and the Le Mans 24 Hours, whilst the manufacturer has also produced almost 5000 race cars since being founded in 1958.

The company went into administration in 2012, with all of their LMP2 chassis having been retired in 2016, only for the manufacturer to have been rescued by US-based British businessman, Till Bechtolsheimer.

Bechtolsheimer is a racing driver himself in the United States and competes in the IMSA Sportscar Championship.

“We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Yamaha Motor Company as we enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship," said Bechtolsheimer.

"To be selected by one of the most innovative OEMs in the world to partner on a project of this significance is a testament to the caliber of the team that we have been building at Lola.

“The focus of this project is squarely around technological development in which Lola is fully invested.

"We see the highly efficient 350 kW electric powertrain that underpins the manufacturer’s perimeter in Formula E, as a cornerstone technology with exciting applications across many forms of topflight international motorsport in the coming years.”

Why Yamaha and who will they support?

Lola has a long history with Japan and won 13 Super Formula championships. Across the categories Lola previously competed in, they have partnered with some of the largest Japanese manufacturers.

Yamaha are the next that they will be working with, to the delight of the company's managing executive officer and director, Heiji Maruyama.

“Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability," said Maruyama.

"As the technical partner, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric racing in Formula E.

"We also share Lola's new philosophy of sustainable motorsport and we are very pleased and honored to form this partnership with them."

In terms of which current team Lola will partner is currently unknown, although it is already recognised that Abt Cupra require a new powertrain supplier for Season 11.

They confirmed earlier this year that they would not be continuing as a Mahindra customer team next season, when Gen3.5 is introduced.