Lola F3000 1991

[chunterer]

Something that always fascinated me was that the 1991 Lola T91/50 3000 chassis was a backward step over its highly succesful predecessor the
T90/50.

I recall something about the 91 car not liking the compound of Avon tyres it had to run on in '91 and the T90/50 actually remained the quicker chassis?

Anyone got the info on this?

[dereklola]

Bit of a late reply - but the reason was that the series changed from bias to radial tyres and the Lola didn't change enough - the competition simply did a better job of adapting to radials. So I'm told.

[Tim 27]

I stand to be corrected, but seem to remember the T91/50 had a large spacer fitted between the engine and gearbox to increase the wheelbase around halfway through the season. From memory it did increase competitiveness.

[driftwood]

depends if your talking jaPanese F3000 OR Euro F3000
Euro was avoin only Japan had tyre war Potenza advan dunlop all supplying tyres
euro was reynards domain jaoan was lolas championship

[Chris Wilson]

I know some Euro series 91's had the inboard rear wishbone pivots moved about. I also know that Paul Stewart Racing messed about with various rear diffuser designs and front wing end plate designs, probably lots of teams constantly tried new tweaks throughout the season though.

[Chris Wilson]

Ben Bowlby mentions in a recent Racecar Engineering that he was commissioned to redesign the side pods on the 91/50 for Paul Stewart Racing, making them shorter, but it did little to improve matters. He appears to have done a lot of development on the car, it did get faster, but so did the Reynards...

[driftwood]

91D was possibly the best F3000 car made ( only downside is tub was narrower than later cars)when they made the 92 rules sidepods had to be longer hence 92 93D having longer pods
for 1994 the rule on pod length allegedly was missed out so reynard designed the 94d with the 91d short pod and another good car was created but with less aero on front wing end plates curley wurleys under the wing/front wheel

[Chris Wilson]

If Fred at Omega would get on with some pistons for this Mugen of mine I can find out just how much quicker a "bad year" car is than I am You are a mine of info on these things, thanks driftwood!