Lola LMP2 news...

tblincoe · 8 Oct 2004, 19:22 (Ref:1119185)

those of you who have a subscription to dailysportscar.com, go there now and check out the new pics of the Lola B05/40, i think it one of the sexiest sportscars that i have seen to date, and to think that i would ever say that about a 2004-reg car!!!

but one big thing about the photos that struck me was the fact that the car had pontoon fenders i.e. almost exactly like the Lola B160 as run by dyson... i know this was supposed to be illegal now and i think the way they are getting around this is by attaching the pontoons at a very small point to the main part or the body. overall the car looks like a TON of detail has been paid to the aero and i believe this car will be VERY quick

oh, and it seems as though two teams are confirmed from europe with one in the US confirmed... anyone care to take a guess on which teams are involved?

Europe:
RML
G-Force

North America:
Intersport

paul-collins · 8 Oct 2004, 19:27 (Ref:1119186)

I hope Tracsport are one of the teams looking seriously at the B05/40.

SALEEN S7R · 8 Oct 2004, 19:36 (Ref:1119190)

I wonder if this could be the car to take the fight to some of the older LMP 1 machines like the Courage C60s? We have seen this year that cars like the Courage C65's can mix it with the LMP 1's - hopefully this car could do the same, perhaps even better.

Could we be seeing a LMP 675 situation all over again?

PaulSands · 8 Oct 2004, 20:00 (Ref:1119206)

Tracsport have been testing a Courage at Le Mans

rdjones · 8 Oct 2004, 20:07 (Ref:1119211)

I have seen the photo's over on DSC and it looks a very impressive. Is it me or does it look something like the EX257, sorry the B160.....

SALEEN S7R · 8 Oct 2004, 20:10 (Ref:1119212)

No Rob it isnt u, I thought the same when I saw it initally, but there are a few subtle differnces.

rdjones · 8 Oct 2004, 20:23 (Ref:1119226)

I would agree there Saleen, but if you look at the front on shot and rear facing one then you can tell that they come from the same family, so to speak.

BSchneiderFan · 8 Oct 2004, 20:55 (Ref:1119257)

Can someone clear this up, because it's been bugging me: Lola B160 or B01/60? I've always thought the latter.

SALEEN S7R · 8 Oct 2004, 20:57 (Ref:1119258)

Lola b160.

tblincoe · 8 Oct 2004, 23:16 (Ref:1119375)

mulsannemike or someone who knows the rules, how is it that the new lola can run the pontoons the way it is... is it indeed because it is attached at a very small part?

oh and as for the speed of this car, i will go out on a limb and say that this car will be the fastest LMP2 car out there. just look at all the little aero tricks this car uses... its as if the carbon fiber was shrink wrapped around the mechanical bits, just look at the back suspension. and next year it could very well be up there on the time sheets due to the restrictions on the old P900s. remember, the courage wasn't too far off last year... add ballast and reduce power to the current cars and you get my drift.

BSchneiderFan · 8 Oct 2004, 23:26 (Ref:1119381)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
Lola b160.

But why? The formula was previously clear - the B98/10 was designed in 1998 and '10' was, I assume, Lola's code for an SR1/LMP sportscar, the B2K/10 was the 2000 model, and the B2K/40 was the LMP675 companion. So wouldn't B01/60 be more logical?

SALEEN S7R · 9 Oct 2004, 00:05 (Ref:1119404)

Who knows. Perhaps u could email Lola and ask them why, u never know u might get a response. The official site is www.lola-group.com

MulsanneMike · 9 Oct 2004, 03:21 (Ref:1119462)

In their press mentions Lola calls it a B01/60.

Just now seeing the images and basically not all together surprised by the pontoons. Figured there would be a way to interpretate it. They've covered them in plan (or at least the floor plan exposed by the pontoons) and attached that shadow plate extending forward of the side pod to the pontoon. Even with the 150 mm offset (plan offset from side of car) it still appears that you are able to provide alot of exit volume for the front diffuser by the looks of the front and top 3/4 front and rear images.

There shouldn't be any surprise to the car's visual similarity with the B01/60 and other Lola lines. Race car design is about evolution...

Its a no brainer that the Lola LMP2 will be the quickest one out there, its the only one to have seen a wind tunnel development program! Successful cars are ones where attention has been paid to the details and this looks to be the case with the B05/40.

Fab · 9 Oct 2004, 04:46 (Ref:1119475)

Quote:

Originally posted by paul-collins
I hope Tracsport are one of the teams looking seriously at the B05/40.

Do you think they're still hesitating between the Lola and the Courage ? Or could they buy both ?

tblincoe · 9 Oct 2004, 06:47 (Ref:1119509)

thanks for the reply mike, those were my thoughts exactly... as for tracsport, they did test the courage and it sounded like they were sold on it, but i have to think that any LMP2 team with a desire for a new car will wait until at least january before making a decision, there's just too many options right now and i would definitely wait for news on the Lola

**FIRE** · 9 Oct 2004, 12:29 (Ref:1119672)

Quote:

Originally posted by tblincoe
Europe:
RML

I think not. They are busy with the Chevrolet WTCC project next season.

Quote:

Originally posted by tblincoe
G-Force

You mean the Belgian team?

SALEEN S7R · 9 Oct 2004, 13:58 (Ref:1119723)

Quote:

Originally posted by MulsanneMike
In their press mentions Lola calls it a B01/60.

Just now seeing the images and basically not all together surprised by the pontoons. Figured there would be a way to interpretate it. They've covered them in plan (or at least the floor plan exposed by the pontoons) and attached that shadow plate extending forward of the side pod to the pontoon. Even with the 150 mm offset (plan offset from side of car) it still appears that you are able to provide alot of exit volume for the front diffuser by the looks of the front and top 3/4 front and rear images.

There shouldn't be any surprise to the car's visual similarity with the B01/60 and other Lola lines. Race car design is about evolution...

Its a no brainer that the Lola LMP2 will be the quickest one out there, its the only one to have seen a wind tunnel development program! Successful cars are ones where attention has been paid to the details and this looks to be the case with the B05/40.

You mean the Courage C65 never saw a wind tunnel? Wow, that makes this car a even greater achievement IMO. For me the new Lola looks faster, and I agree it should be, but it all hangs on whether or not they can get a good engine in the back of the car, that AER in the Courage's are pretty good, producing approx 550bhp.

JAG · 10 Oct 2004, 19:22 (Ref:1120462)

Quote:

Originally posted by FIRE
I think not. They are busy with the Chevrolet WTCC project next season.

RML will be running their current 'MG' Lola next season as an LMP2 car, and also hope to run a second chassis alongside it, possibly the new Lola.

BTW, Lola have confirmed their new prototype can run in LMP2 AND LMP1 spec with very minor modifications.

Which class a team runs in will probably depend on budget and whether they feel capable, as a team, to take on the likes of Audi etc.

Rollcentre are looking at the Lola so they may well run in LMP1 with a 4l V10 Judd engined car in 2006.

RickP:Clio51 · 15 Oct 2004, 08:41 (Ref:1125011)

The cost of buying/running a Courage/ new Lola is pretty prohibitive for a privateer team guys... looking at over £250k for the chassis alone (which is more than some LMP1 cost this year...) I'd be surprised if you see me/Tracsport in LMP2 in 2005...

marcush. · 15 Oct 2004, 08:47 (Ref:1125018)

hi rick,
considering racers to be a pretty optimistic bunch of people this does not sound very encouraging.....I had hoped for lola or Courage putting forward a leasing or rental scheme for their chassis similar to the engine deals .
Ok ,this would also be a lot of money evaporating ,without
having somethingaccountable in hands but better than having a obsolete uncompetitive car in desperate need for a rebuilt but no possible buyers standing around after 2 years...

RickP:Clio51 · 15 Oct 2004, 08:56 (Ref:1125022)

Plenty of demand for the cars, no reason for them to be offering aggressive packages.
But there is a time to be realistic and even funding the car over a couple of years you are still talking about enormous financial investment for what is basically a family team. With running costs (and including Le Mans which I understand we'd get an entry for if we bought a Courage...) you're looking at needing something not far away from the £600k it cost JOTA to run LMP1 this year.
In this economic climate, that's a lot of money to find when you don't even have the chance of winning a race.
I think the team were very serious about buying a Courage, but can't get the numbers to line up sensibly.
The plan is still to be in the LMES though...

marcush. · 15 Oct 2004, 09:12 (Ref:1125034)

so the target has to be :make the old girl fly in LMES ...
beats sitting at home and dreaming of a courage that will not happen...
Am i wrong in observing that the old lola package is not looking too bad in ALMS ?May there be more life in old trusty...I bet.Even though I don´t think they would invite you for LM if you campaign that car...but maybe you could put on some tricolore colours on the car to fool them into thinking it´s a sort of WR or early courage...
What about a WR deal ,though? Not quite the fastest option ,but that would at least get you there...

RickP:Clio51 · 15 Oct 2004, 09:22 (Ref:1125041)

1) I think the "Old girl" is in new hands... will keep u posted.
2) You might think I'd consider a WR drive... I couldn't possibly comment. At this stage my plan is to be with Tracsport if at all possible.
;-)

marcush. · 15 Oct 2004, 09:49 (Ref:1125056)

Tracsport has shown great commitment and ability so you´re absolutely right to try strike a deal with them involved.

Concerning the Jota Budget ,I feel this is about the money you have provide if you dare going LMP...Not quite sure if Creation had more to spend though.
In my view the Zytek was a package competitive for race wins at all rounds of the lmes series ,so 600K seems a fair deal ,considering what other outfits throw out of the window on their way to the checker....
On the other hand having the potential and actually winning is two worlds,and not even creation has managed to beat the audis come finish line.And what are they missing?
with two world class drivers ,a tyre contract,dedicated good or very good clever crew you have to say they missed out on experience and a second car to pick up the pieces if (silver)lighting strikes ......of course they could have made good use of team veloqx hospitality ,if only to get good a press with autosport...

RickP:Clio51 · 15 Oct 2004, 09:55 (Ref:1125061)

Things change by the hour Marcus... will keep you posted as we go on... but the world looks like a different place from when we started this discussion...
Can't say anymore on the above, but I can confirm the old Lola is definitely in new hands.

5th LMES race in Shanghai anyone?

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