Embarking on an electrification project as a Formula E manufacturer alongside Yamaha represents the ‘first pillar’ in Lola’s revival, according to its motorsport director Mark Preston.
Experienced racecar constructor Lola returned in 2022 when Till Bechtolsheimer, an energy investment company CEO and occasional IMSA driver, completed a purchase of all company assets. Bechtolsheimer’s goal is to bring Lola back to prominence in the motorsport industry after it ceased operations in 2012 amid financial strife. The first milestone of the revival is today’s announcement of Lola’s new affiliation with Japanese manufacturer Yamaha, made ahead of the inaugural Tokyo E-Prix.
Lola and Yamaha are developing a Formula E car for use in the 2024-25 FIA Formula E World Championship season, under the Gen3 Evo regulations. Lola will be the registered powertrain manufacturer and Yamaha will be its technical partner. The Lola side of the project has enlisted several key figures from electric racing, not least Preston who was team principal of the DS Techeetah team when it won back-to-back Formula E titles.
‘I got to know Till Bechtolsheimer when he bought Lola and was looking around at what the future of racing was,’ Preston told Racecar Engineering. ‘Lola is now focused on three pillars: electrification, which Formula E is the pinnacle of; hydrogen, where there are discussions for Le Mans and F1 in the more distant future; and sustainable materials and fuels, which covers quite a lot of what’s going on in other racing series.
‘Having been away for a while, we need to focus on some of the future technologies that are going on in the world. Electrification is the first pillar that we’re talking about today.
‘I’ve been talking with Yamaha for quite a few years. They came to some of the races and are very interested in the future of electrification. They do a lot of powertrains in things like scooters and marine. Decarbonisation is a big part of the future of transportation for everybody.’
Lola and Yamaha are developing the full electric powertrain for their Formula E car, including software. Some parts are being sourced from suppliers, such as the rear powertrain electric motor from Helix and the gearbox…
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