Legendary brand Lola announces return, with Yamaha as partner

For long followers of motorsport, Lola is a very familiar name. It has a very rich history in motorsport, especially as a chassis builder. Among others, the team were active in Formula 1, IndyCar and endurance racing for many years. Illustrious drivers such as Graham Hill, Alan Jones, Michele Alboreto and Aguri Suzuki drove Lola cars. The British team briefly made their entry into Formula 1 as an independent team in 1997, but that adventure was anything but a success. In 2012, Lola went bankrupt.

Lola has big plans

The Lola name was later bought by businessman Till Bechtolsheimer, who has big plans. "We are incredibly excited to be partnering with the Yamaha Motor Company as we enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 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," said the American.

"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," Bechtolsheimer concluded.

Mark Preston, Motorsport Director of Lola Cars, also commented: "We are thrilled to confirm our entry in Formula E. 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."

Yamaha previously active in Formula 1

Not only is Lola returning to the global motorsport stage, but so is Yamaha. The Japanese company, best known for their two-wheelers, were active in Formula 1 as an engine supplier between 1989 and 1997. Yamaha supplied the Zakspeed, Jordan, Tyrell and Arrows teams. With the latter team, the Japanese were close to a Grand Prix victory in '97, but in the Hungarian GP, reigning world champion Damon Hill's car suffered a hydraulic problem on the very last lap. As a result, the Briton finished second.

Heiji Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer and Director of Yamaha Motor co. said: "Yamaha Motor Company is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. 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."