Lola Cars, a motorsport brand with over 500 championship wins, is set to return to global motorsport in a multi-year technical partnership with Yamaha Motor Company. Together, they will enter the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as a manufacturer from Season 11. The iconic motorsport brand will work with Yamaha to develop and supply a powertrain to compete in the world’s first all-electric, single-seater race series starting from the 2024/25 season, with the introduction of an evolution of the current GEN3 race car.
Lola Cars’ Motorsport Director, Mark Preston, expressed excitement about their entry into Formula E. He noted that this project would allow them to create a unique electrified platform with a software focus at its core, contributing to Lola’s broader plans to shape the future of motorsport technology. Preston emphasized Lola Cars’ history of success in chassis and aerodynamic design and highlighted how this project would allow them to further innovate and push boundaries in these areas.
Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman of Lola Cars Ltd., shared his enthusiasm about partnering with Yamaha Motor Company for their entry into the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. He underscored the significance of being selected by such an innovative OEM for a project of this magnitude and highlighted the quality of the team that Lola has assembled. Bechtolsheimer emphasized that their focus on technological development is at the heart of this partnership and expressed hope that it would lead to advanced energy management technologies that can be leveraged across various top-tier international motorsport events.
Heiji Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer and Director of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., emphasized Yamaha’s commitment to accelerating research and development for sustainable technologies. Maruyama expressed his hope that partnering with Lola in Formula E would help them gain advanced energy management technologies through the pinnacle of electric racing. Additionally, he noted how this partnership aligns with Lola’s philosophy of sustainable motorsport and expressed excitement about establishing this partnership.
In conclusion, Lola Cars’ entry into Formula E marks an exciting chapter in both brands’ histories as they work together towards advancing technology in motorsport while focusing on sustainability. With their shared passion for innovation and excellence, this partnership promises to deliver groundbreaking advancements in electric racing technology for years to come.
