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MasterCard Lola (often described simply as Lola) is a former Formula One team that contested one race in the 1997 Formula One season. It quickly withdrew from the sport after failing to qualify in its sole race. The result was unsuccessful to the point that it is sometimes not even recognized on that season's entry list.
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After years of providing chassis to other teams, mainly Larrousse, team principal Eric Broadley planned a team that would compete solely under Lola ownership. 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. The team had originally intended to enter F1 in 1998, but entered a year early in 1997, Broadley saying that this was due to commercial pressures from the team's sponsors, primarily from title sponsor, MasterCard.
The Lola chassis, dubbed the T97/30, was based on most of their IndyCar technology yet never saw the inside of a wind tunnel and barely had on-track tests. This was mainly due to the fact that the design of the engine fell behind schedule.
The engine, the responsibility of Al Melling. was a V10, designed specifically to take into account the rear streamlining of the car and the underneath of the car in the area of the diffuser. Unfortunately the engine was not developed in time and Lola were compelled to use the Ford engine.[1]
Vincenzo Sospiri and Ricardo Rosset were signed to drive, but wound up as the victims of the project. By the time the car made it to the 1997 Australian Grand Prix, the team's failings were laid bare, with the cars bottom of the timesheets by a considerable margin. Under 1997 rules, drivers would only be allowed to start a race if they set a qualifying time within 107% of the pole position time. At 11 and 13 seconds respectively, with the unintended Ford unit, Sospiri and Rosset were nowhere near achieving this. While fellow newcomers Stewart Grand Prix had performed respectably, the Lola cars would not be seen at a Formula 1 event ever again.
The cars were tested shortly after the Australian Grand Prix at Silverstone but both were again slowest with times in excess of 10 seconds off the front runners. [1]
On 26 March 1997, the Wednesday before the Brazilian Grand Prix, Lola announced it was withdrawing from the Brazil race due to "financial and technical problems". Lola's staff, who had already travelled to Interlagos, returned to the team's base in Huntingdon, England. Shortly afterwards, Lola withdrew from the World Championship outright.[2]
In its short existence as a Formula One constructor Lola incurred £6 million in debt; the company went into receivership several weeks later.[3] Irish entrepreneur Martin Birrane purchased the company and oversaw a revival in the company's fortunes; however, Lola has not been involved in Formula One in any capacity since.
On 22 April 2009, Lola announced its intention to launch a full scale works effort for the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship.[4]
On 15 May 2009 Lola officially announced its intention to enter a team in the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship. The team admitted that they had to re-examine their position after the plans to introduce a budget cap of £30million were raised to £40m but insisted it was "an opportunity not to be missed".[5]
However, on 17 June 2009, Lola announced it had abandoned plans to return to F1 after failing to secure a place on the initial 2010 entry list.[6]
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| Year | Chassis | Engine | Tyres | Drivers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Points | WCC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Lola T97/30 | Ford Zetec-R V8 | B | AUS | BRA | ARG | SMR | MON | ESP | CAN | FRA | GBR | GER | HUN | BEL | ITA | AUT | LUX | JPN | EUR | 0 | NC | |
| Vincenzo Sospiri | DNQ | DNP | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Ricardo Rosset | DNQ | DNP |
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