MasterCard Lola

[takagi_for_the_win]

Was refreshing to see companies like Mastercard and Pennzoil in F1, pity this experience may have scared them off F1 for good. Although with Mastercard, it was a considerable own goal

Pennzoil did come back in later years as a minor sponsor of Haas...

Jesus, they really know how to pick them.

[dr-baker]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p1zXscsAIsQ

A YouTube video by The Race decides that MasterCard Lola was the worst F1 team of the 1990s, beating Life into second place and Andrea Moda into 4th place! Upon starting watching the video, I was sure that Andrea Moda would beat Lola to the top spot, and Life would have been a good choice to have pushed Lola to 3rd in the rankings. Basically, lists like this are always somewhat subjective depending on the criteria used. Still, at least MasterCard Lola has won something, eh?

And they stated.that on Rosset's qualifying lap in the Lola, he got stuck in 4th gear. I don't remember reading that when I put the first post of this thread together, or have I just forgotten?

[CoopsII]

I'd have voted for Andrea Moda based on how ludicrous the whole venture was on the track and behind the scenes. Admittedly a big chunk of my opinion also comes from reading Perry McCarthys hilarious book but he was in the middle of it, after all. I guess, Andrea Moda at least turned up to more races than Lola.

I recall reading that the two Lola cars were actually included in the PS1 F1 1997 game but had to be taken out due to the team folding? I may have that wrong.

[Rob Dylan]

I'd have voted for Andrea Moda based on how ludicrous the whole venture was on the track and behind the scenes. Admittedly a big chunk of my opinion also comes from reading Perry McCarthys hilarious book but he was in the middle of it, after all. I guess, Andrea Moda at least turned up to more races than Lola.

I recall reading that the two Lola cars were actually included in the PS1 F1 1997 game but had to be taken out due to the team folding? I may have that wrong.

I own that one for N64 but Lola aren't in it sadly whether they're in the code somewhere but unavailable? I don't know.

[Nuppiz]

I'd have voted for Andrea Moda based on how ludicrous the whole venture was on the track and behind the scenes. Admittedly a big chunk of my opinion also comes from reading Perry McCarthys hilarious book but he was in the middle of it, after all. I guess, Andrea Moda at least turned up to more races than Lola.

I recall reading that the two Lola cars were actually included in the PS1 F1 1997 game but had to be taken out due to the team folding? I may have that wrong.

They were included in some early beta versions (as seen here) with placeholder graphics (McLaren liveries that still featured West logos as well!), but were taken out before release. They were still in the manual though, with just a note added that they were removed due to the team folding.

[CoopsII]

They were included in some early beta versions (as seen here) with placeholder graphics (McLaren liveries that still featured West logos as well!), but were taken out before release. They were still in the manual though, with just a note added that they were removed due to the team folding.

I do now remember seeing them in the manual when I bought my copy back in 1998. Pre internet, pre F1 Rejects I had no idea they weren’t actually in the game until it loaded up, imagine my disappointment etc. Right, I thought, I’ll play as Jacques Villeneuve instead to cheer myself up….

[dr-baker]

I do now remember seeing them in the manual when I bought my copy back in 1998. Pre internet, pre F1 Rejects I had no idea they weren’t actually in the game until it loaded up, imagine my disappointment etc. Right, I thought, I’ll play as Jacques Villeneuve instead to cheer myself up….

Pole or DNQ, there is no in-between.

[dr-baker]

Good news everyone! Lola is now under new ownership and planning to build cars again for the first time in around a decade, with an initial focus on sportscars. Wonder if they will ever decide to try F1 again?

https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... /10327663/

[mario]

Good news everyone! Lola is now under new ownership and planning to build cars again for the first time in around a decade, with an initial focus on sportscars. Wonder if they will ever decide to try F1 again?

https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... /10327663/

Whilst their enthusiasm is commendable, I am wondering how their business model is going to work.

In sportscar racing, the FIA's decision to grant a monopoly supply on the production of the LMP2 survival cell to just four teams - Dallara, Onroak Automotive, Oreca and Riley/Multimatic - has not only locked out the LMP2 class, it has also locked out the LMDh class because those cars also use an LMP2 survival cell which must be produced by one of those four outfits.

It's something that has locked out manufacturers like Gibson or Ginetta, and the earliest that contract might come up for renewal is 2025 - and that assumes that the FIA and ACO don't extend the current rule set, and the current monopoly on supplying a chassis, which is something they are rumoured to be considering. Furthermore, as noted in that article, because IMSA shares the same rules and has the same restrictions on suppliers, that market is also shut out for the next few years. I'm not really sure what other junior series they might be able to break into - are there any other significant sportscar series where there aren't any restrictions on supplying a chassis?

There's a similar issue with monopolies on supply in single seater series as well - Dallara has a monopoly on supply in most series now, whilst Formula 4 also only has a limited list of approved chassis suppliers (Tatuus, Mygale, Dome and Ligier - and, even then, Dome only supplies the Japanese Formula 4 series). IndyCar and Indy Lights are both monopoly supplies and Super Formula is the same - are there any series where they could possibly try to re-establish themselves as a supplier?

[Nessafox]

Good news everyone! Lola is now under new ownership and planning to build cars again for the first time in around a decade, with an initial focus on sportscars. Wonder if they will ever decide to try F1 again?

https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... /10327663/

Whilst their enthusiasm is commendable, I am wondering how their business model is going to work.

In sportscar racing, the FIA's decision to grant a monopoly supply on the production of the LMP2 survival cell to just four teams - Dallara, Onroak Automotive, Oreca and Riley/Multimatic - has not only locked out the LMP2 class, it has also locked out the LMDh class because those cars also use an LMP2 survival cell which must be produced by one of those four outfits.

It's something that has locked out manufacturers like Gibson or Ginetta, and the earliest that contract might come up for renewal is 2025 - and that assumes that the FIA and ACO don't extend the current rule set, and the current monopoly on supplying a chassis, which is something they are rumoured to be considering. Furthermore, as noted in that article, because IMSA shares the same rules and has the same restrictions on suppliers, that market is also shut out for the next few years. I'm not really sure what other junior series they might be able to break into - are there any other significant sportscar series where there aren't any restrictions on supplying a chassis?

There's a similar issue with monopolies on supply in single seater series as well - Dallara has a monopoly on supply in most series now, whilst Formula 4 also only has a limited list of approved chassis suppliers (Tatuus, Mygale, Dome and Ligier - and, even then, Dome only supplies the Japanese Formula 4 series). IndyCar and Indy Lights are both monopoly supplies and Super Formula is the same - are there any series where they could possibly try to re-establish themselves as a supplier?

There are a few insiginificant series (though most of them are hillclimb, but there is also for example Belcar), which allow group CN prototypes, it's where the likes of Norma, Radical and even Wolf are active nowadays.

[dr-baker]

It is a concern where they could really go in reality in this era of single or limited supplier series. The only series where you have to produce your own chassis is F1, and that is a closed shop even to Andetti at the moment. And this thread tells the story of how F1 worked out for Lola last time. Motorsport is becoming more and more a monopoly and less competitive for people entering the arena.

[dr-baker]

How much do people know about this guy who is buying Lola, US-based Briton Till Bechtolsheimer, who races in the GT Daytona class of the ISMA SportsCar Championship, and who runs an investment company in New York focused on renewable energy? Hopefully nothing like Don Pentecost?

[dr-baker]

https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... /10338115/

An interesting article on the new owner of the Lola Cars brand, accessible through Autosport Plus.

[dr-baker]

I think I may need to do some homework on the earlier history of Lola in F1!

[dr-baker]

Former Managing Director of Lola, Mike Blanchet, has died aged 74. RIP.

https://www.autosport.com/general/news/ ... /10368758/

[dr-baker]

[dr-baker]

[Rob Dylan]

After an average of one qualifying session

[dr-baker]

After an average of one qualifying session

Yeah, it was a bit of a weird, random tweet...

[dr-baker]

[Har1MAS1415]

From that front-on angle, the T95/30 could easily be mistaken for a modern F1 car, until you realise there's no airbox as emphasized by the empty space behind the roll-hoop. Now there's an optical illusion for you!

[Har1MAS1415]

Kind of set the tone for Rosset's 1998 Season perhaps?

[dr-baker]

[dr-baker]

https://youtu.be/ZGvMHTKhsGQ?si=DaRW40eAtmi-deou

[temporary]

[tweet]twitter.com/UnracedF1/status/1758386640601661546[/tweet]

[CoopsII]

https://youtu.be/ZGvMHTKhsGQ?si=DaRW40eAtmi-deou

Looks like Silverstone, Stowe corner. As if they'd have lasted that long anyway

Great find though.

[Har1MAS1415]

While we're on the subject of Lola, there was a rumour of a US-based Lola-Ford team for 1993, to which Michael Andretti was linked.
https://f1since81.wordpress.com/2017/11 ... rand-prix/

[dr-baker]

While we're on the subject of Lola, there was a rumour of a US-based Lola-Ford team for 1993, to which Michael Andretti was linked.
https://f1since81.wordpress.com/2017/11 ... rand-prix/

I'm going to have to look into this a bit more when I have the time. I didn't see this when I did my research the first time round. And I started back in 1992 due to the Lola Scuderia Italia...

[Har1MAS1415]

While we're on the subject of Lola, there was a rumour of a US-based Lola-Ford team for 1993, to which Michael Andretti was linked.
https://f1since81.wordpress.com/2017/11 ... rand-prix/

I'm going to have to look into this a bit more when I have the time. I didn't see this when I did my research the first time round. And I started back in 1992 due to the Lola Scuderia Italia...

I only came across it myself yesterday while looking at that particular WordPress blog.

At best, it sounds like a rumour suggesting a possible revival of Carl Haas' 1985-86 entry, since Andretti was linked to that team at one point but was denied a superlicence.

[dr-baker]

[dr-baker]

I don't think I have seen this car from this angle before.

https://twitter.com/UnracedF1/status/17 ... eiPYA&s=19

[dr-baker]

https://youtu.be/FDrquledojw?si=R7Aei4NCX2avSUB-

I haven’t come across this interview with Ricardo Rosset before. Looks like he didn’t find out the news from the newspapers as commonly believed but directly from Eric Broadley by telephone. Makes me wonder how Sosperi found out. I’m hoping he too had a phone call from either Broadley (preferably) or else Rosset. Worst would be for one driver to get a call from the team boss and the other to read about it in the press.

[Har1MAS1415]

https://youtu.be/FDrquledojw?si=R7Aei4NCX2avSUB-

I haven’t come across this interview with Ricardo Rosset before. Looks like he didn’t find out the news from the newspapers as commonly believed but directly from Eric Broadley by telephone. Makes me wonder how Sosperi found out. I’m hoping he too had a phone call from either Broadley (preferably) or else Rosset. Worst would be for one driver to get a call from the team boss and the other to read about it in the press.

Perhaps Rosset would have been better off going to CART or the IRL? Would have given him a ready-made excuse not to return with Tyrrell in 1998. That would have made things interesting for Ken Tyrrell, he wanted to keep Jos Verstappen but Norberto Fontana was also close to signing up.

[dr-baker]

Could be interesting, but doesn't say anything about title sponsorship in the X-tweet...

[dr-baker]

[dr-baker]

[Har1MAS1415]

Not wishing to go off subject but this is a great livery for the launch of Lola's Formula E effort.

[Har1MAS1415]

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... ere-proud/
Got to admire the optimism in this article.

[dr-baker]

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... ere-proud/
Got to admire the optimism in this article.

Thank you for posting that, it was a good read. I always wondered why they didn't try to run the cars in Brazil, considering everyone and everything was there, and it was all paid for.

[Har1MAS1415]

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/arti ... ere-proud/
Got to admire the optimism in this article.

Thank you for posting that, it was a good read. I always wondered why they didn't try to run the cars in Brazil, considering everyone and everything was there, and it was all paid for.

You're welcome.

The article has only just been published so I thought "Get in there while the going is good!"