The new Lola B05/40 LMP2 car took victories over the weekend on both sides of the Atlantic to announce its arrival on the International sportscar scene. Road Atlanta and Spa Francorchamps, arguably two of the toughest and most challenging circuits in the world, saw the Huntingdon built model sweep all before them with Intersport Racing in the US and Chamberlain-Synergy in Europe.
On it European race debut the Chamberlain-Synergy entered car took the class spoils and a stunning 5th overall at the opening round of the Le Mans Endurance Series – the Spa 1000kms. The classic sportscar fixture saw a race of attrition in the damp and misty conditions but the black B05/40 ran perfectly to head their nearest challenger by three laps in a richly merited victory.
OWEN, BERRIDGE AND EVANS CELEBRATE THEIR LMP2 WIN AT SPA LAST NIGHT
A breathless opening stint by Team Principal, Bob Berridge, saw the AER engined LMP2 trade fastest laps of the race with leading LMP1 cars such as the Pescarolo, Audi and eventual overall winner, the factory Zytek.
Towards the end of Berridge’s stint he caught and passed several of these cars in a dazzling display of what the new design can achieve in conditions that often create a level playing field. “I couldn’t quite believe that I was catching the Audi and the Zytek,” said a delighted Berridge after alighting from the car. “But at that stage they were holding me up and I got passed pretty easily. It was a great team effort today and the car is absolutely awesome. I honestly don’t think that I have driven a better car than this.”
PETER OWEN CUTS THROUGH THE MIST DURING HIS STINT AT THE WHEEL
Peter Owen and Gareth Evans followed Berridge in the hot seat and did stirling work in the ever-worsening conditions. 2000 SportsRacing World Cup champion, Owen, was over the moon at scoring a victory on his LMP2 race debut and said: “ After the Paul Ricard test we knew that we had a fast and reliable car. All we needed to do was get the ‘monkeys’ in the car trained and we were laughing!”
Experienced sportscar entrant Hugh Chamberlain, who with Berridge masterminded the teams victory from the pit wall thought that race ran almost perfectly for the team, saying. “It is a brand new team really and we have been up against it in recent weeks but we did rather well in difficult circumstances. Full marks to the team and the drivers because it wasn’t easy out there today.”
Comfortably leading the LMP2 class early on and serving notice of serious intent for later in the season – the RML MG-Lola EX264 of Tommy Erdos and Mike Newton were frustrated by an intermittent electrical problem. “We had a problem with the master switch relay almost from the start of the race but it had not affected my position and once the tyres came to the fore I had a fantastic run,” said Erdos.
TOMMY ERDOS AT SPEED IN THE RML GROUP MG LOLA EX264
The Brazilian, who then handed the car over to team mate Mike Newton before finishing the race himself, was very complimentary about the new car, saying; ““It’s a great credit to Lola. They’ve created something very special, and it’s so good straight out of the box.”
After losing several laps because of the problem, the MG engined car came home 18th overall and 4th in class, showing some impressive pace while fighting back through the field.
RML Chief Executive Ray Mallock, himself a former leading sportscar driver, commented “It was good to see the competitive pace of the car and shows that we clearly have enough speed to be a front runner in the LMP2 class. Mike and Tommy did a great job today and, although frustrating to have a problem with a relatively minor piece of hardware, overall we are happy with the performance of the car”.
Just as the Spa race was concluding, so the 2nd round of the American Le Mans Series got under way at Road Atlanta, Georgia. Jon Field’s Intersport team took a thoroughly convincing LMP2 victory, finishing 4th overall and registering their fastest lap of 1m14.242, which was just 1.7 seconds away from the overall winning Champion Audi car of JJ Lehto and Marco Werner.
Sharing the driving with his son – Clint Field, Jon started the race in his typically combative style and initially held on to the LMP1 cars before settling in to some eye catching fast and consistent lap times.
CLINT FIELD AT THE WHEEL OF THE INTERSPORT LOLA B05/40
Despite a lengthy pit stop to correct a loose alternator belt, Jon Field was delighted to register the first win for the Telesis Intersport Racing Lola LMP2, also powered by the 2 litre AER turbo engine, saying; “ It was a good run today and we learnt a lot more about the car. It is great to do this and show just a little of what we will be able to achieve with more development.”
Dyson Racing finished a fine 2nd place overall but could have won the race. After taking a brilliant pole position, James Weaver and Butch Leitzinger led for the majority of the event, only to fall foul of some bitter luck in the final 30 minutes when a spin and then a gearbox problem meant they retired and were classified 10th.
That car’s misfortune was the sister Dyson Lola’s gain, as the Andy Wallace and Chris Dyson driven car took over the lead only to lose it at the final pit stop which was conducted under a full course yellow. “We raced the Audis today, more so than at Sebring and we are quite happy for that,” said Andy Wallace after the race. “We are getting to know the Michelin tyres better and I think that is the biggest thing for us, finding a new set up for the Michelins. We are about maybe 40% of the way there. When we finally get that, we can be more of a pain in the side of the Audis."
JAMES WEAVER LEADS THE AUDI'S AT THE START OF THE RACE AFTER TAKING A BRILLIANT POLE POSITION
In its first race, the newly AER engined Van Der Steur Lola B2K/40 had a solid debut with Norfolk’s Ben Devlin reminding the paddock of his talent with some quick laps times that helped the team celebrate a podium position in LMP2.
If that were not enough sportscar success for the Lola Group, then the Classic Endurance Racing event at Spa on Saturday reminded everyone of Lola’s rich heritage in the discipline. Frank Sytner’s glorious 1969 Lola T70 took the spoils with Lola’s Executive chairman Martin Birrane enjoying a competitive race with co-driver Kevin McGaritty to 5th place in very difficult conditions with the Lola T212.
Also in evidence at Spa were Didier Theys and Markus Hotz who will be head up the Horag Lista team which announced their purchase of another Lola B05/40 to race in the LMES this year.The teams first race will be at Monza in July and former Sebring winner, Theys cannot wait to get started. "On the evidence of this race, we will be right at the sharp end of the grid, not only in LMP2 but also I am sure mixing in with the LMP1 cars."
The next Lola B05/40 action takes place at Mid-Ohio on May 22. Following that will be the Le Mans test days at La Sarthe on June 4/5.
SPA 1000kms RACE RESULT
Pos - Cl - Drivers - Make - Time - Laps - Gap
1. LMP1 ShimodaH/Nielsen J/Elgaard C Zytek 04S 6:00:48.389 1322. LMP1 Bouillon JC/Collard F/Comas E Pescarolo C60 6:02:45.225 131 13. LMP1 Short M/Barff J/Ickx V Dallara Judd 6:01:32.213 127 54. LMP1 Michigami R/Wakisaka J/Ara S Dome S101 HBMugen 6:01:08.291 126 65. LMP2 Berridge B/Evans G/Owen P Lola AER 6:02:04.924 124 86. GT1 Gollin F/Ramos M/Cressoni M Ferrari550 M 6:02:14.651 123 97. LMP2 Tinseau C/Pillon C/Amorin N Courage Mecachrome 6:02:11.983 121 118. GT2 Hughes W/Kane J/Tomlinson L TVR Tuscan T400R 6:01:06.592 120 129. GT1 Fomenko N/Vasiliev A/Bouchut C Ferrari 550 M 6:02:49.944 120 2010. GT2 HynesM/Pearce P/Temtleman J TVR Tuscan T400R 6:02:58.909 119 1311. GT2 GroppiF/Moccia L/Camathias J Porsche 996 GT3RS 6:02:59.385 119 1412. GT2 Collin P/Felbermayr S/Felbermayr J Porsche 996 GT3 RS 6:01:15.717 117 1513. GT2 Rosa G/Drudi L/Babini F Ferrari 360 Modena 6:01:17.701 117 1514. GT1 PescatorC/Bartyan M/Seiler T Ferrari 550 M 6:01:18.151 117 1515. GT2 LambertY/Lefort C/Palltala M Porsche 996 GT3RSR 6:01:22.377 116 1616. LMP2 Rostan M/Bruneau P/Peugeot JP Pilbeam JPX 6:03:03.354 115 1717. GT2 Hartshorne J/Stanton R/Eagling D TVR Tuscan T400R 6:01:23.319 113 1918. LMP2 Newton M/Erdos T MG Lola EX 264 6:03:08.998 113 20ROAD ATLANTA RACE RESULT
1. Marco Werner, JJ Lehto Audi R8 P1 1122. Chris Dyson, Andy Wallace Lola B01/60 AER P1 1123. Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro Audi R8 P1 1114. Jon Field, Clint Field Lola B05/40/AER P2 1085. Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell Corvette C6-R GT1 1086. Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin Corvette C6-R GT1 1077. Andrea Bertolini, Fabrizio De Simone Maserati MC12 GT1 1078. Terry Borcheller, Johnny Mowlem Saleen S7 GT1 1079. Alex Figgie, Ryan Dalziel CorvetteC5-R GT1 10610. James Weaver, Butch LeitzingerLola B01/60 AER P1 10511. Bill Auberlen, Robin Liddell Panoz Esperante GT2 10512. Romain Dumas, Timo Bernhard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10513. Jorg Bergmeister, Patrick Long Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10414. Michele Rugulo, Tom Weickardt Dodge Viper GT1 10315. Jon Fogarty, Johannes van Overbeek Porsche 911GT3 RSR GT2 10316. Ian Baas, Randy Pobst Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10217. Guy Cosmo, Jamie Bach Courage Mazda P2 10218. Justin Jackson, Nic Jonsson Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10219. Sascha Maassen, Tony Burgess Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10220. Lonnie Pechnik, Seth Neiman Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 10121. Bryan Sellers, Scott Maxwell Panoz Esperante GT2 9222. Rick Skelton, Michael Cawley Porsche 911 GT3 RSR GT2 9023. Ben Devlin, Eric & Gunnar Van der Steur Lola B2K/40 AER P2 85
