THE LOLA T180
All pictures copyright www.honda.co.jp unless otherwise stated.
The T180 at the Honda museum. Note the high rear wing, nose wings and the extended roll hoop (presumably for demonstration runs).
The T130/RA300 was only ever intended as a stop-gap measure so, for 1968, Lola and Honda introduced the T180/RA301. Most obvious change was the new four-valve V12 engine from Honda using newly designed block and cylinder heads that produced a claimed 420 bhp with (much needed) improved torque characteristics. The four overhead cams were driven by gears up the centre of the engine and employed torsion-bar valve springs that Honda had developed on their very successful F2 engines, as in 1967 a Honda five-speed clutch and gearbox were fitted.
The most noticeable changes to the new Lola monocoque (chassis F-801) were moving the front spring/dampers outboard, extending the tub rearwards of the cockpit and using a double wishbone system at the rear and, of course, during the year it acquired a large rear wing mounted on the rear uprights and "winglets" on the nosecone. The entire package weighed in at 41 kg lighter than the T130/RA300.
Results for the car were generally disappointing with a best of second for John Surtees in the French GP being the highlight.
During the season a second tub (chassis F-802) was built up by Len Terry at the Honda Racing premises at Slough employing magnesium in the tub instead of aluminium to further lighten the car, perhaps a strange choice following the terrible accident to Jo Schlesser in the French GP in the magnesium chassied RA302. It only raced twice and was no more competitive than the Lola-built car.
Year(s) of Construction: 1968
Total Built: 1 (F-801 - see text above for explanation of F-802)
T180 SPECIFICATIONS
| Chassis Construction: | Aluminium Monocoque |
| Wheelbase: | 2410 mm |
| Track (front / rear): | 1440 / 1400 mm |
| Suspension (front/rear): | Double wishbones |
| Tyres: | Firestone |
| Fuel tank: | 200 litre |
| Weight: | 530 kg (magnesium chassis?) |
| Transmission: | Honda 5-speed |
| Engine configuration: | Vertical liquid-cooled 90-degree V12 cylinder, DOHC 48 valve |
| Engine displacement: | 2993 cc |
| Engine output (end of season): | 440 bhp @ 11,500 rpm |
SIGNIFICANT T180 RESULTS
1968
| DATE | RACE/VENUE | DRIVER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 May | Spanish Grand Prix, Jarama | John Surtees | Retired |
| 26th May | Monaco Grand Prix, Monte Carlo | John Surtees | Retired |
| 9th June | Belgian Grand Prix, Spa-Francorchamps | John Surtees | Retired |
| 23rd June | Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort | John Surtees | Retired |
| 7th July | French Grand Prix, Rouen-les-Essarts | John Surtees | 2nd |
| 20th July | British Grand Prix, Brands Hatch | John Surtees | 5th |
| 4th August | German Grand Prix, Nürburgring | John Surtees | Retired |
| 8th September | Italian Grand Prix, Monza | John Surtees David Hobbs (F-802) |
Retired Retired |
| 22nd September | Canadian Grand Prix, Mont-Tremblant | John Surtees | Retired |
| 6th October | United States Grand Prix, Watkins Glen | John Surtees | 3rd |
| 3rd November | Mexican Grand Prix, Mexico City | John Surtees Jo Bonnier (F-802) |
Retired 5th |
