MasterCard Lola

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**Lola**

Full name	MasterCard Lola
Base	Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
Team principal	Eric Broadley
Technical director	Eric Broadley
Race drivers	24. Vincenzo Sospiri 25. Ricardo Rosset
Test drivers
Chassis	Lola T97/30
Engine	Ford ECA Zetec-R 3.0 V8
Tyres	Bridgestone
Debut	1997 Australian Grand Prix
Final race	1997 Brazilian Grand Prix
Races competed	1
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0
Race victories	0
Pole positions	0
Fastest laps	0
1997 position	NC (0 points)

Formula One Portal

MasterCard Lola is a former Formula One team that contested one race in the 1997 Formula One season.

Team principal Eric Broadley didn't cover himself in glory with the effort, which sometimes is not even recognized on that season's entry list. After years of providing chassis to other teams, mainly Larrousse, Broadley planned a team that was the culmination of years of development. A prototype chassis was first tested in 1995 with Allan McNish and in late 1996 Broadley announced the team's participation in the near future, though the entry was pushed up to 1997 as MasterCard wasn't forthcoming with their financial support.

Ricardo Rosset (pictured) and Vincenzo Sospiri both failed to qualify for the 1997 Australian Grand Prix.

Stewart Grand Prix, headed up by Grand Prix legend Jackie Stewart, had his new team all prepared with the Alan Jenkins-designed SF01 launched before Lola got started on their own. The Lola chassis, dubbed the T97/30, was based off most of their IndyCar technology yet never saw a wind tunnel and barely had on-track tests. Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset were signed to drive, but wound up victims of the project. By the time the ungainly car made it to the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, the complete lack of symmetry on the car in all aspects made it painful to watch. Sospiri and Rosset never had a sniff of the grid, 11 and 13 seconds respectively off the pace.

The MasterCard support faded prior to the second round in Brazil and the now sponsor-less cars arrived devoid of any money or hope, and it marked the end of the road. The foray proved a huge financial setback for the organization and it was only thanks to the works of Martin Birrane, who bought Lola from Broadley, and Keith Wiggins that Lola survived at all. While the 1997 season may have been remembered for a remarkable season-long duel between Jacques Villeneuve and Michael Schumacher, it can also be remembered for MasterCard Lola's disastrous entrance into F1.