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THE LOLA Mk2
All pictures copyright Lola Heritage unless otherwise stated.
Eric Broadley on the left and a group of interested onlookers view the new Mk2.
Once Lola Cars had become established as a production car manufacturer in 1959 it was inevitable that Eric Broadley would look around for a class other than sportscars in which to diversify. The FIA had announced a new single seater class commencing in 1959 to be known as Formula Junior, its intention to replace the 500cc Formula 3 cars, although it would not be until 1960 that British manufacturers turned their attention to it. It was an ideal form of racing for a fledgling manufacturer, engines and gearboxes could be bought in and all potential new British designs would be starting from a level playing field with no previous experience.
F Junior was the brainchild of the Italian racer Count Giovanni "Johnny" Lurani who initially envisioned Junior as a way of developing future Italian Grand Prix drivers but following on from its success in Italy the FIA recognised Junior's potential as a replacement for the now outdated F3 cars. The regulations called for single seater cars powered by either 1100cc or 1000cc engines, for 1100cc cars there was a 400kg (882 lbs) minimum weight limit, with a 1000cc engine this was reduced to 360kg (793 lbs). The engine had to be derived from a production car (At least 1000 units in 12 consecutive months) and overhead cams were forbidden, the fuel supply had to be the same as the production car version of the engine. Brakes, i.e. drums or discs, had to be the same type as that of the car from which the engine had been taken. The gearbox had to be from a FIA recognised touring car although the ratios could be changed. There were a number of other restrictions on size, engine and transmission changes etc. but there was certainly plenty of room for innovative design.
The original Lola specification sheet and cutaway drawing of the Mk2.
Sticking to principles that he knew worked Eric Broadley designed the Mk2 using many features from the successful Mk1. A complex 20 gauge multi-tube chassis frame located the engine to the right of the car's centre line whilst the driver's cockpit was offset to the left. To add to the rigidity of the design the undertray and propshaft tunnel were riveted to the chassis so acting as a stressed members. This configuration meant that the drive from the Ford 105E 997cc overhead-valve engine, which was canted 15° from the vertical as well as 2° longitudinally, could go from the the BMC 4-speed gearbox via the propshaft which was to the right of the driver's seat to the offset differential assembly. This allowed for a near-straight run for the transmission line which helped limit power losses. Transmission was via a Borg and Beck 7.25 inch clutch to the BMC gearbox which was fitted with close ratio gears made for Lola by a name that would soon be synonymous with gearboxes, Mike Hewland, the ratios were 1, 1.23, 1.67 and 2.5:1. The differential was a BMC nose piece fitted to a Lola aluminium casing, internals were BMC with a choice of three crown wheel and pinion ratios 4.2, 4.55 and 4.9:1.
The first Mk2 outside the Lola factory at Bromley. At the wheel is Frank Lugg, one of the early Lola employees.
The front suspension consisted of wide based unequal length double wishbones with outboard coils and dampers, the rack and pinion steering attached to the uprights forward of the front-wheel line. At the rear once again Broadley used the driveshaft and a trailing link to work as a top wishbone while the lower wide-based wishbone was mounted at an angle to the axis of the car. To compensate for the unequal length driveshafts caused by the offset differential a hollow hub casting was made for the offside rear wheel with the right-hand driveshaft passing through it which kept the angular displacement of the two universal joints at an acceptable level. 9 inch drum brakes were fitted front and rear, the rears being mounted inboard on specially made backplates bolted to the sideplates of the differential, as on the Mk1 Alfin drums were used. The Lockheed two leading shoe design was operated by twin master cylinders.
This shot of the Mk2 shows the Lola premises were on a residential road.
A low and wide fibreglass body covered the chassis with the nose and top panel back to the cockpit being a single unit, inside the nose a large Gallay aluminium cross flow radiator was mounted to the front of the chassis. The two S.U. carbs emerged on the left of the car between two top frame tubes one of which stretched diagonally from the top left mounting point for the front damper to the right front corner of the cockpit. A six gallon (27 litres) fuel tank sat to the right of the driver (with the option of an additional tank behind the driver) with a oil tank for the dry-sumped engine was mounted above and to the right of the driver's legs. The wheels were 13" cast magnesium bolt-ons with the hubs being integral on the front and were fitted with Dunlop R5 racing tyres, 450X13 on the front and 525X13 on the rear.
All the Mk2s had the prefix BRJ for Bromley Junior as part of their chassis number.
The Mk2 fitted with a Junior-spec Ford engine although it originally tested....
...with a 1000cc Coventry Climax engine.
When the Mk2 was first tested at Brands Hatch it set some suspiciously fast times, it was revealed that as Lola hadn't received their first F Junior engine in time a 1100cc Coventry Climax engine had been temporarily fitted!
The Mk2 was an extremely good front-engined F Junior design with a reputation for excellent handling, regrettably for Lola 1960 saw the debut of the rear-engined Lotus 18 with works Ford-Cosworth engines and Jim Clark driving. Despite this handicap the Mk2 ran well on occasions scoring a second, driven by Peter Ashdown, at Brands Hatch on it's debut in the 1959 Boxing Day meet. South African John Love had a "class" win at Chimay in June, the Juniors running with Formula 2 cars, Love also taking seconds at the Nürburgring and Roskilde and thirds at Rheims and Albi. Peter Ashdown in the works car finished second at Monte Carlo in the Monaco GP support race whilst Dennis Taylor won in July at the Nürburgring South Circuit at the race where Love took second. In August Argentinean Juan Manuel Bordeu won at the Swedish circuit of Karlskoga and Richard Prior led Peter Ashdown home at the Nürburgring South Circuit in October. Generally results in the UK were disappointing with the competition from Lotus, Cooper and Elva but Peter Ashdown did win at Snetterton in June as did Richard Prior in August and Martin Wallis and Richard Prior finished third at the July Goodwood and September Snetterton events respectively.
Year(s) of Construction: 1960
Total Built: The Lola Chassis Log is incomplete but 29 is a likely figure.
DIMENSIONS:
Wheelbase: 82 inches (208 cm)
Track: Front 45 inches (114 cms) Rear 45.5 inches (115.5 cms)
Length: 128 inches (325 cms)
Weight: approx. 800 lbs (363 kg) without fuel
The front suspension (and engine coil) of the Mk2.
Mk2 CHAMPIONSHIP WINS |
YEAR |
CHAMPIONSHIP |
WINNER(S) |
NOTES |
| 1960 |
Danish Formula Junior Championship |
Joerges Bagger |
|
| 1961 |
Danish Formula Junior Championship |
Joerges Bagger |
|
| 1977 |
UK Formula Junior Championship |
Brian Urlwin |
|
| 1979 |
Chandler Hargreaves UK Formula Junior Championship |
Roy Drew |
Front-engined Class |
| 1980 |
Varley Batteries UK Formula Junior Championship |
Roy Drew |
Front-engined Award |
| 1981 |
Gates Varley UK Formula Junior Championship |
Roy Drew |
Front-engined Award |
| 1982 |
Gates Varley UK Formula Junior Championship |
Peter Merritt |
Front-engined Class |
| 1983 |
Gates Varley UK Formula Junior Championship |
Peter Merritt |
Front-engined Class |
| 1984 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1985 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
Front-engined Class |
| 1986 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1987 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1988 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1989 |
Lenham Storage UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1991 |
Monoposto Racing Club UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
Front-engined Class |
| 1993 |
HSCC UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
Front-engined Class |
| 1994 |
HSCC UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
Pre '61 Class |
| 1995 |
HSCC UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 1997 |
HSCC UK Formula Junior Championship |
Tony Steele |
Front-engined Class |
| 1999 |
FIA Lurani Trophy Championship |
Tony Steele |
|
| 2006 |
FJHRA/HSCC Millers Oils UK Formula Junior |
John Truslove |
First Overall and Front-engined Class |
| 2009 |
Golden Jubilee Around the World (Formula Junior) |
Ned Spieker |
Also raced a Brabham BT6 |
The rear end of the Mk2, the drum brakes and offset drive-train are very evident.
Notable Mk2 Race Wins:
1960 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 19th June |
Snetterton - Eastern Counties 100 Miles |
Peter Ashdown |
Formula Junior - First win for a single-seater Lola |
| 26th June |
Roskilde Ring - Reinholdt Cup |
Joerges Bagger |
Formula Junior - First continental win for a single-seater Lola |
| 3rd July |
La Châtre - V Grand Prix de La Châtre |
Dennis Taylor |
Formula Junior |
| 10th July |
Nürburgring South Circuit - XXIII Internationales ADAC-Eifelrennen |
Dennis Taylor |
Formula Junior |
| 6th August |
Snetterton - Vanwall Trophy |
Richard Prior |
Formula Junior |
| 7th August |
Karlskoga - IX Kanonloppet 1960 Gelleråsbanan |
Juan Manuel Bordeu |
Formula Junior |
| 2nd October |
Nürburgring Südschleife - ADAC - Eifelpokal-Rennen |
Richard Prior |
Formula Junior - German Championship Round 10 |
| 2nd October |
Roskilde Ring - Danske Mesterskabslöb |
Joerges Bagger |
Formula Junior |
| 9th October |
Sudelfeld - I Sudelfeld Bergrennen 1960
Deutsche Meisterschaft, Rd 11 |
Kurt Ahrens Jr. |
Formula Junior - German Championship Round 11 |
A Mk2 frame having a touch-up!
1961 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 30th April |
Roskilde Ring - VII Åbningslöbet |
Joerges Bagger |
Formula Junior |
| 1st October |
Roskilde Ring - Danske Mesterskabslöbene |
Joerges Bagger |
Formula Junior |
1964 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
16th May |
Matamata - National meeting |
Ken Smith |
Libre heat |
| 12th July |
Harewood Hillclimb - BARC (Yorkshire Centre) |
A. Evangelisti |
Class Winner |
1982 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 3rd April |
Silverstone - JDC |
Roy Drew |
Round of the Gates-Varley Historic Formula Junior Championship |
| 15th May |
Barbon |
Tony Steele |
Round 4 of the Pace Petroleum British Hillclimb Championship - Class Winner |
| 11th July |
Barbon |
Tony Steele |
HSCC Historic Handicap Race |
| 31st July |
Donington Park - HSCC |
Alan Baillie |
Historic Sports Racing Cars and Single-Seaters built pre-1961 - Winner Single-Seaters Class |
| 26th September |
Doune - Lothian CC |
Tony Steele |
Round 16 of the Pace Petroleum RAC British Hillclimb Championship - Class Winner |
1984 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 14th April |
Donington Park - HSCC |
Tony Steele |
HSCC Freight Media Pre '65 Single-Seater, Lenham Storage FJunior and Historic F3 Championship - Winner FJunior Cars 1958-1968 |
| 19th May |
Barbon Manor - Westmorland MC |
Tony Steele |
Round 4 of the Pace Petroleum British Hillclimb Championship - Class Winner |
| 11th August |
Oulton Park - BARC (NW) |
Tony Steele |
Lenham Storage FJunior and Historic F3 Championship - Winner Front-engined FJunior Cars |
| 25th-27th August |
Donington Park - DRC |
Tony Steele |
HSCC Freight Media Pre '65 and Bradburn & Wedge Pre '70 Single Seater Championship Race - Class Winner |
| 27th August |
Silverstone - BRDC |
Tony Steele |
Lenham Storage FJunior and Historic F3 Championship - Winner Front-engined FJunior Cars |
| 30th September |
Snetterton - HSCC |
Alan Baillie |
HSCC Freight Media Pre '65 Single Seater Championship Race - FJunior Front-engined Class Winner |
| 30th September |
Snetterton - HSCC |
Tony Steele |
HSCC Freight Media Pre '65 Single Seater Championship Race - FJunior '58 to '68 Class Winner |
1985 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 11th May |
Oulton Park - HSCC |
Tony Steele |
Lenham Storage FJunior Race - Front-engined Class Winner |
| 8th - 9th June |
Brands Hatch International Historic Weekend - HSCC |
Tony Steele |
Lenham Storage FJunior and Formula 500 Race - Front-engined Class Winner |
| 8th - 9th June |
Brands Hatch International Historic Weekend - HSCC |
Tony Steele |
FISA Trophy Race - Class Winner |
Peter Ashdown on the grid. (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
2000 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 7th September |
Goodwood - Revival Meeting |
Tony Steele |
Winner of the Scott Gaze Handicap |
2003 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 7th September |
Goodwood - Revival Meeting |
Robin Longdon |
Winner of the Chichester Cup |
2005 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 29th-31st July |
Silverstone - HSCC Silverstone Classic |
David Pratley |
Colin Chapman Trophy for Historic Formula Junior - Winner Class C1 |
2006 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 5th April |
Brands Hatch - BRSCC |
Tony Steele |
FIA Lurani Trophy for Historic Formula Junior Cars - Winner of Class B |
| 6th-7th May |
Brands Hatch - HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
| 20th-21st May |
Silverstone - HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
| 17th–18th June |
Croft - HSCC |
John Truslove |
Historic F Junior - First overall and Winner Class A2 |
| 26th-28th August |
Oulton Park - HSCC Gold Cup |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
| 10th September |
Brands Hatch - HSCC |
John Truslove |
Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
| 21st October |
Silverstone - HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
2007 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 12th May |
Silverstone - HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Winner Class A2 |
| 9th-10th June |
Snetterton - HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Race 1 Winner Class A |
| 9th-10th June |
Snetterton -
HSCC |
John Truslove |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Race 2 Winner Class A |
| 20th October |
Silverstone - HSCC |
Clive Wilson |
Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner of Class A2 |
2008 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 4th-5th October |
Donington - HSCC |
Brendan Roberts |
Lurani Trophy Historic F Junior Championship - Race 1 Winner of Class B |
| 4th-5th October |
Donington - HSCC |
Brendan Roberts |
Lurani Trophy Historic F Junior Championship - Race 2 Winner of Class B |
2009 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 30th-31st May |
Snetterton - HSCC Autosport 3 Hours |
Stuart Tizzard |
HSCC FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner of Class B |
| 9th August |
Mallory Park - HSCC |
Robin Longdon |
HSCC FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - First overall and Winner of Class B |
Peter Ashdown at the Nürburgring for the October 1960 Eifelpokal Rennen. Entered by the Fitzwilliam Racing Team, Peter finished second to the sister car of Richard Prior. (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
2010 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 28th March |
Silverstone - HSCC Meeeting |
Stuart Tizzard |
HSCC FJHRA Miller Oils Historic F Junior - Winner Class B |
| 16th-18th April |
Hockenheim - Jim Clark Memorial Meeting |
Dietrich Merkel |
Lurani Trophy - Race 1 - Winner Class B |
| 16th-18th April |
Hockenheim - Jim Clark Memorial Meeting |
Dietrich Merkel |
Lurani Trophy - Race 2 - Winner Class B |
2011 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 6th August |
Croft - Nostalgia Weekend |
Stuart Tizzard |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic F Junior - Race 1 - Winner Class B2 |
2012 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 30th June |
Brands Hatch - Superprix |
Bob Birrell |
FIA Lurani Trophy for Historic F Junior cars - Race 1 - Winner Class B2 |
| 22nd July |
Silverstone - Classic |
Simon Godliff |
FJRHA Historic F Junior - Winner Class B2 |
2014 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 19th April |
Thruxton - Easter Revival |
Justin Fleming |
HSCC/FJHRA Millers Oils Historic Formula Junior - Race 1 Winner Class B2 |
| 28thSeptember |
Brands Hatch - Anglo-French Motors Cup |
Justin Fleming |
HSCC/FJHRA Historic Formula Juniors - Front-engined - First overall and Winner Class B2 |
2016 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 18th June |
Cadwell Park "Wolds Trophy" Historic Race Meeting |
Ian Robinson |
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior Front Engine - Winner Class INV |
2017 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 2nd July |
Legends of Brands Hatch Superprix |
Justin Fleming |
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior - Winner Class B2 |
| 6th August |
Croft 'Nostalgia Festival' Historic Race Meeting |
Justin Fleming |
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior - Race 1 - Winner Class B2 |
| 6th August |
Croft 'Nostalgia Festival' Historic Race Meeting |
Justin Fleming |
HSCC/FJHRA Silverline Historic Formula Junior - Race 2 - Winner Class B2 |
2018 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 22nd July |
Silverstone Classic |
Andrew Hibberd |
John Surtees Trophy For Historic Formula Junior Period E - Race 2 - First overall and Winner Class B2 |
2019 |
DATE |
VENUE/MEETING |
DRIVER |
NOTES |
| 9th June |
Dijon Prenois - Grand Prix de l'Age d'Or |
Alan Baillie |
Formula Junior - Race Grid 2 - Winner Class B2 |
28th May 1960, the support race for the Monaco GP. At the front are Jim Clark (#114 Team Lotus Lotus 18), Peter Ashdown (#104 Lola Cars Lola Mk2), Trevor Taylor (#112 Team Lotus Lotus 18), Henry Taylor (#150 Ken Tyrrell Cooper T52) and Peter Arundell (#110 Team Lotus Lotus 18). (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
Ashdown, here battling with the Cooper of eventual winner Henry Taylor, finished second. (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
The Mk2 drifts through the streets of Monaco. (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
The attractive lines of the Mk2. (Picture courtesy of Peter Ashdown)
