Lola enjoyed a stunningly successful weekend during the sixth round of the American Le Mans Series at Mid Ohio. A brilliant overall win for Dyson Racing in their Lola-Mazda Coupe was preceded by a front row lock-out for the Huntingdon constructor in qualifying. In a thrilling race the Dyson Lola-Mazda LMP with team owner/driver Chris Dyson at the wheel held off the Highcroft Racing HPD to take the chequered flag by just over half a second. Guy Smith had earlier driven an excellent opening two stints before Dyson took over after 39 laps and instantly stamped his and the Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda’s authority on the race by overtaking the Highcroft HPD.

“We had a good car all weekend,” Dyson said. “It stopped well, put the power down in key areas, and it was extremely consistent as the fuel burned off. The guys in the pits did an amazing job putting us in the right place with our strategy, and the stops were great.”

Drayson Racing had started the race from a first ALMS pole position, which Jonny Cocker had impressively secured on Friday afternoon. The Judd powered Lola LMP Coupe had proved to be fastest proposition in the build up to the race, gathering more momentum in what has so far been an enormously promising debut season.

Paul Drayson took the start of the race in the British entry but his and the team’s race was compromised after a collision with a GT car meant a lengthy pit stop to replace a bent steering arm. Despite yet more superb work from the Drayson crew and the car returning to the fray with Jonny Cocker, the car was unable to be classified in the final results.

Intersport Racing had what was undoubtedly their best race of the season with father and son pairing Jon and Clint Field ensuring that the Lola-AER LMP was in contention for victory with just thirty minutes of the race remaining. Sadly Clint Field was forced to retire the car with a problem late on in their home event.

Autocon Motorsport registered another podium finish after a trouble free in the orange Lola-AER LMP open cockpit car. It was an extra special result for Bryan Willman and Tomy Drissi after they were forced to start the race from the back of the grid because of a gearbox change in qualifying.

An immensely successful weekend on the racetrack was complemented just as well off the track when it was announced on Friday that Lola and Roush Yates Engines had come to agreement to offer a technical solution for the 2011 season. Lola LMP2 designs can now be offered with the Ford V6 Ecoboost turbo.

The next round of the American Le Mans Series takes place at Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin on August 21st.

Lola would like to send its best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to Cytosport Porsche driver Greg Pickett who sustained injuries in a testing accident last Thursday.

All pictures americanlemans.com

A magnificent victory for the Dyson Racing Lola-Mazda.



Pole Position for the Drayson Racing Lola.



The Intersport Racing Lola was in contention for victory until a late race retirement.



The start of the race with Lolas at the front.



Celebrations for the winning Dyson Racing team.



The Dyson Racing team on the podium.